New strategies for oligonucleotide synthesis by use of 2-trimethylsilylethyl and 2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl as the phosphate and 2'-hydroxyl protecting groups, respectively. 1993
The 2-Trimethylsilylethyl (TSE) group was found to be useful as a protecting group for the internucleotidic phosphate in DNA synthesis. Oligodeoxyribonucleotides were synthesized in good yields by using phosphoramidite building blocks having the TSE group. In RNA synthesis, 2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl (SEM) group was introduced as a new protecting group for the 2'-hydroxyl. Selective protection of this function with SEM-Cl was achieved in good yield by use of 3',5'-O-bis(tert-butyl)silanediyl ribonucleoside derivatives.