Novel solid phase synthesis supports for the preparation of oligonucleotides containing S3'-alkyl amines.

?he synthesis and application of photolabile supports for solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis that release oligonucleotides containing 3'-alkyl amines is described. The alkyl amine functionality can be revealed without removing any other protecting groups throughout the biopolymer. The solid phase synthesis supports do not contain a nucleoside, making it possible to use a single support for the synthesis of oligonucleotides independent of their sequence. Individual solid phase synthesis supports differ according to the length of the alkyl tether between the 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl group which serves as the initiation site for oligonucleotide synthesis and the latent alkyl amine. Eicosameric oligonucleotides are obtained in yields ranging from 70-98% under photolysis conditions that are known to produce less than 3% thymidine thymidine photodimers. Longer oligonucleotides (30 and 40 nucleotides in length) are cleaved from these solid phase synthesis supports in lower yields.