The use of O-beta-cyanoethyl-O-octyl-N,N-diisopropy phosphoramidite (1
) (Lipocap) as a capping reagent in the automated solid phase synthesi
s of oligonucleotides is described. Its lipophilicity allows the easy
separation of capped failure sequences from trityl-off full length mat
erial by reverse phase HPLC. Consequently, oligonucleotides are isolat
ed with higher yield and shorter time. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.