C2′‑F Stereoconfiguration As a Puckering Switch for Base Stacking at the Dinucleotide Level

Fluorine configuration at C2′ of the bis­(2′-fluorothymidine) dinucleotide is demonstrated to drive intramolecular base stacking. 2′-β F-Configuration drastically reduces stacking compared to the 2′-α series. Hence, base stacking emerges as being tunable by the C2′-F stereoconfiguration through dramatic puckering variations scrutinized by NMR and natural bond orbital analysis. Accordingly, 2′-β F-isomer photoreactivity is significantly reduced compared to that of the 2′-α F-isomer.