Synthesis of nucleoside phosphosulfates.

We describe an efficient and scalable procedure for the chemical synthesis of nucleoside 5'-phosphosulfates (NPS) from nucleoside 5'-phosphorimidazolides and sulfate bis(tributylammonium) salt. Using this method we obtained various NPS with yields ranging from 70-90%, including adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (APS) and 2',3'-cyclic precursor of 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS), which are the key intermediates in the assimilation and metabolism of sulfur in all living organisms.