Template polycondensation of active esters containing nucleic acid bases with diamines

Template polycondensations of di‐p‐nitrophenyl methylsuccinate derivatives of thymine (1) and theophylline (2) with piperazine and 4‐aminomethylbenzylamine (4‐ABA) were carried out in pyridine/methylene chloride and in DMF solutions. Polystyrenes containing adenine as a side group in various contents were used as template in this polycondensation. The polycondensation reactions of active ester 1 with diamines were effectively accelerated by the presence of the template in both solvents. On the other hand, the polycondensation reactions of active ester 2 with diamines were scarcely affected by the template under the same conditions. The maximum acceleration effect was observed in the presence of templates in which the adenine content is about 54% for the polycondensation of 1 with piperazine and about 25% for that with 4‐ABA, respectively.