Alkylation of guanosine by phosphoramide mustard, chloromethine hydrochloride and chlorambucil

Guanosine was reacted in vitro with phosphoramide mustard, chloromethine hydrochloride, and chlorambucil. The products were isolated by HPLC and characterized by UV and fluorescence spectroscopy, and C-8 tritium exchange. The primary products were 7-alkylguanosines according to such evidence. Phosphoramide mustard had 1/10 of the apparent alkylation activity of two other mustards. The primary 7-alkylguanosines were unstable at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees; t1/2 were 3 min. for chloromethine hydrochloride, 2.7 hrs for chlorambucil and 3.0 hrs for phosphoramide mustard. Both dechlorination at the unbound arm of the mustard and imidazole ring opening og guanosine appeared to account for such instability.