Glycidol-carbohydrate hybrids: a new family of DNA alkylating agents

Novel and chiral glycidol–carbohydrate hybrids possessing an epoxy group as a DNA alkylating moiety were designed and synthesized. These artificial hybrids selectively alkylated DNA at the N-7 sites of the guanines and cleaved DNA without any additives. The binding ability of the glycidol was significantly enhanced by the attachment of the carbohydrate.