INTRODUCTION OF A UNIVERSAL SOLID SUPPORT FOR OLIGONUCLEOTIDE SYNTHESIS

Protection of 1,4-anhydro-D-ribitol with the bidentate reagent 1,3-dic hloro-1, 1,3,3-tetraisopropyldisiloxane, followed by 4,4'-dimethoxytri tylation, selective cleavage of the silyl group at the secondary oxyge n, chloroacetylation, and desilylation at the 5-position, afforded chl oroacetyl-2-O-(4,4'-dimethoxytrityl)-D-ribitol. Derivatisation of the free hydroxyl group with LCAA-CPG gave a novel universal solid support for use in oligonucleotide synthesis and phosphoramidite-based combin atorial chemistry. This solid support was used for synthesis of a numb er of oligonucleotides, for which the purity and identity with oligonu cleotides synthesised on commercial supports was demonstrated.