Synthesis of 2-diphospho-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate and a photocaged analogue

Diphosphoinositol polyphosphates (inositol pyrophosphates, X-InsP7) are a family of second messengers with important roles in eukaryotic biology. Their chemical synthesis and modification remains a challenging task due to the high density of phosphate groups arranged around the myo-inositol core. Here, a novel approach is presented that facilitates the incorporation of the diphosphate in the 2-position (2-InsP7) and that enables the introduction of a photocage subunit.