Chemistry of the nucleic acids

The prebiotic chemistry of the nucleic acid bases is still the subject of debate among experts. One of the most mindful critics is Robert Shapiro, professor of chemistry at New York University and a DNA expert. His book Origins-A Sceptic s Guide to Creation of Life on Earth includes a critical analysis of the results previously obtained in biogenesis research (Shapiro 1986). Shapiro s has been the critical voice in the community of biogenesis researchers for many years. He identifies the weak points in some of the audacious hypotheses, which are often raised to the status of theories even though they involve many open questions. 

Tipson, R. Stuart, The Chemistry of the Nucleic Acids, I, 193-245 Tipson, R. Stuart, Sulfonic Esters of Carbohydrates, VIII, 107-215... 

Tipson always enjoyed and took great pride in precise scientific writing. When the Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry series was launched in 1945 under the editorship of W. W. Pigman and M. L. Wolfrom, he wrote a comprehensive article for Volume 1 on the chemistry of the nucleic acids that is to this day a model of historical accuracy, careful and economical use of language, and clear interpretation of experimental data based on thoroughly characterized crystalline compounds. 

For recent reviews of the chemistry of the nucleic acids and related topics see B. Lythgoe, Chemistry of Nucleosides and Nucleotides, Ann. Repts. on Progress Chem. (Chem. Soc. London), 41, 200 (1945) R. S. Tipson, The Chemistry of the Nucleic Acids, Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry, 1, 193 (1945) A. R. Todd, Synthesis in the Study of Nucleotides, J. Chem. Soc., 647 (1946) B. Lythgoe, Chemistry of Adenine Nucleotide Coenzymes, Ann. Repts. on Progress Chem. (Chem. See. London), 42, 175 (1946) B. Lythgoe and A. R. Todd, Structure and Synthesis of Nucleotides, Symposia Soc. Expll. Biol. I. Nucleic Acid, 1947, 15 A. R. Todd, Synthase de Nucleotides, Bull. soc. chim. France, 1948,933 B. Lythgoe, Some Aspects of Pyrimidine and Purine Chemistry," Quart. Revs., 3, 181 (1949). 

These early contributions were later supplemented by a comprehensive article on the mononucleotides by Ueda and Fox.4 The present article is an extension of these articles to chemical synthesis of oligo-and poly-nucleotides, and it is hoped that, in conjunction with the earlier articles, it will provide the organic chemist with a reasonable appreciation of some of the challenges, both past and present, of the synthetic chemistry of the nucleic acids. 

Since the reviews by Tipson < > and Barker < > on the chemistry of the nucleic acids, two Chapters have appeared in these Volumes on the chemistry of nucleic acid components, namely, the pyrimidine and purine ... 

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