SYNTHESIS OF OLIGONUCLEOTIDES CONTAINING 3'-ALKYLCARBOXYLIC ACIDS USING A PALLADIUM LABILE OLIGONUCLEOTIDE SOLID-PHASE SYNTHESIS SUPPORT

Oligonucleotides containing a 3'-alkylcarboxylic acid are isolated usi ng a Pd(0)-catalyzed cleavage reaction, in yields that are in most cas es within experimental error of those isolated using standard oligonuc leotide cleavage conditions (concentrated NH4OH). In contrast to resul ts obtained with photolabile solid phase synthesis supports, no reduct ion in isolated yields of the oligonucleotides is observed when their length is increased from 20 to 40 nucleotides. The oligonucleotides ar e characterized by anion exchange HPLC, electrospray mass spectrometry , and enzymatic digestion. When methyl phosphoramidites are employed i n the synthesis of the biopolymers, 3 serves as an orthogonal solid ph ase oligonucleotide synthesis support.