Reaction products of styrene oxide with guanosine in aqueous media

Styrene oxide was reacted with guanosine in fully aqueous conditions, and the products were purified by cation exchange chromatography and h.p.l.c. The products were characterized by u.v. and mass spectra, loss of tritium from the C-8 position and dissociation properties. About 90% of the total product was identified, of which 57, 28 and 15% were assigned to N-7, N2 and O6 adducts. The two diastereomers of beta-substitution accounted for 53% of the N-7 adducts, while the two alpha-substitutions accounted for the remaining 47%. Two species of N2 and O6 products were also isolated but their substitution pattern was not established.