Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Nucleoside Triphosphates - From Synthesis to Biochemical Characterization
Published on: April 3, 2014
Synthesis of 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol and 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate
Andrew T Koppisch1, C Dale Poulter
1Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.
Abstract:
2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP, 2) and 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol (CDPME, 3) are metabolites in the MEP pathway for biosynthesis of isoprenoid compounds in bacteria, plant chloroplasts, and algae. The free phosphoacid of 2 was prepared from benzyloxyacetone in five steps with an overall yield of 27% and an enantiomeric ratio (er) of 75:25. Following titration to the corresponding tributylammonium salt, 2 was coupled to cytidine 5'-monophosphate using a protocol originally developed for synthesis of base-sensitive nucleoside diphosphate sugars to give 3 in 40% yield, following purification by size exclusion chromatography.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Energy-requiring Steps of Glycolysis
Glycolysis: Preparatory Phase
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
Glycolysis
Other Glycolytic Pathways
Biosynthesis of Polysaccharides

