Zirconium(IV)-Catalyzed Ring Opening of on-DNA Epoxides in Water

DNA-encoded library technology (ELT) has spurred wide interest in the pharmaceutical industry as a powerful tool for hit and lead generation. In recent years a number of "DNA-compatible" chemical modifications have been published and used to synthesize vastly diverse screening libraries. Herein we report a newly developed, zirconium tetrakis(dodecyl sulfate) [Zr(DS)₄ ] catalyzed ring-opening of on-DNA epoxides in water with amines, including anilines. Subsequent cyclization of the resulting on-DNA β-amino alcohols leads to a variety of biologically interesting, nonaromatic heterocycles. Under these conditions, a library of 137 million on-DNA β-amino alcohols and their cyclization products was assembled.