The methods for coupling of closo-polyhedral boranes with calf thymus DNA and yeast tRNA have been investigated. The functionalized closo-polyhedral boranes Na2B12H11SH, and (Et4N)2B10H9R were synthesized and were subjected to couple with an activated nucleic acid either directly or with a crosslinking agent MBS [m-maleimidobenzoyl)-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester]. The experimental results shows that the method with MBS is a more satisfactory for preparing boronated nucleic acid.

Key words: DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID, NUCLEIC ACIDS, BORON COMPOUNDS, TRANSFER RIBONUCLEIC ACID, SYNTHESIS METHODS, CHEMICAL METHODS, CAGE STRUCTURE, NEUTRON CAPTURE, COUPLING REACTION