New Amphiphiles : 2',3'-Di-O-acyl-5'-nucleotides

Synopsis 2',3'-Di-0-acyladenosine-5'-phosphate and 2',3'-di-0-acyl-uridine-5'-phosphate (acyl = palmitoyl and stearoyl) were synthesized from the corresponding nucleosides. These lipids were converted readily into well-defined liposomes (diameter, 200-1000A) upon sonication in water. The liposomal membranes having the palmitoyl and stearoyl groups showed a main phase transition in a temperature range of 42-45 and 51-57 °C, respectively.