Fluoride ion catalyzed alkylation of purines, pyrimidines, nucleosides and nucleotides using alky halides.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1093/nar/6.4.1695

Alkyl halides react rapidly with purines and pyrimidines in the presence of fluoride ion. Alkylation of thymidine leads to novel dimeric nucleoside derivatives bridged through N3. Alkylation of thymidine mono and dinucleotides leads to alkylation at the base (N3) as well as diester and triester formation at the phosphate.