Recent progress in oligonucleotide synthesis

New blocking group combinations for the machine-aided oligoribonucleotide synthesis on solid phase material have been developed and tested regarding their general application. An acetal function for 2'-OH protection offers a series of advantages in the synthetic approach but special conditions have to be fullfilled in order to guarantee a selective cleavage of the temporary 5'-OH blocking group such as the dansylethoxycarbonyl or even the acid-labile dimethoxytrityl group in the chain elongation process. The final removal of the 2'-0-acetal function in the partially deblocked oligomer proceeds unexpectedly well under weak acidic conditions due to a supposed intramolecular acid catalysis.