PNA synthesis using a novel Boc/acyl protecting group strategy

The synthesis of novel Boc/acyl protected monomers for the synthesis of pep tide nucleic acid (PNA) is described. The oligomerization protocol using th ese new monomers has been optimized with regard to coupling reagents. The u se of base-labile acyl protecting groups at the exocyclic amines of the het erocyclic bases (Isobutyryl for guanine and benzoyl for adenine and cytosin e) and a PAM-linked solid support offers an attractive alternative to the p resent procedures used in PNA synthesis. This strategy has been applied for the synthesis of a test 17mer PNA on both control pore glass (CPG) and a p olystyrene MBHA support and was used in the preparation of PNA-DNA chimeras . Copyright (C) 2001 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.