Synthesis of dna using substituted phenylacetyl-protected nucleotides

Abstract

Deoxyribonucleotide and ribonucleotide derivatives of the general formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents --CR'R'--Ar, in which Ar is substituted aryl (as hereinafter defined) and R' and R' are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl; one of --R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is a hydroxyl-protecting group and the other is a group suitable for synthesis of polynucleotides or for attachment of the nucleotide to a solid support; R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, --OH and protected hydroxyl; and B represents a divalent radical corresponding to a purine or pyrimidine base. When synthesis is carried out using these derivatives, the deprotection procedure is reduced to an essentially instantaneous process. The derivatives have acceptable shelf life and are very stable to conventional DNA synthesis conditions. Particularly preferred are those compounds wherein Ar is mono- and dihalo-substituted phenyl.