Pair Formation of Free Nucleobases and Mononucleosides in the Gas Phase

Abstract The formation of neutral bimolecular clusters of unsubstituted nucleobases and mononucleosides in the gas phase has been studied by IR laser desorption of the neutral molecules into a supersonic beam expansion. The complementary nucleobase pairs adenine-thymine and cytosine-guanine of D N A have been found to be formed in preference to non complementary base pairs. Association constants for the formation of the dimers of free nucleobases and nucleosides in the gas phase are calculated from the experimental results. A strong influence due to side groups affecting the dimer formation of the nucleobases is shown.