Cu2+TerPy complexes as catalysts of the cleavage of the 5'-cap structure of mRNA.

Cu(2+)TerPy is a fairly good catalyst of the cleavage of dinucleoside triphosphates, but its efficiency is not sufficient for use in artificial RNA cleaving enzymes. The present work is aimed at improving the catalysis by Cu(2+)TerPy with additional catalysts. Electrophilic and general acid catalysis have been studied and bifunctional catalysts have been synthesized. The most efficient catalysis was achieved with a Cu(2+)TerPy-dimer.