Hydrolysis by acid yields 2'-, 3 and 5-derivatives.
Hydrolysis of DNA. catalyzed by pancreatic DNAse yields the 5'-ester derivatives. Hydrolysis by other DNAses can yield the 3' derivative.
The inability of DNA to form 2 3'-phosphate diesters accounts for the stability of DNA in alkali. RNA, which can form the 2',3'-diester intermediates, is unstable in alkali.