Synthesis and selective cleavage of an oligodeoxynucleotide containing a bridged internucleotide 5'-phosphorothioate linkage.

A self complementary oligodeoxynucleotide dodecamer containing an achiral bridged 5'-phosphorothioate linkage 3'-O-P-S-5' has been prepared using the solid phase phosphoramidite procedure. For the incorporation of the phosphorothioate link we have used a 5'-(S-trityl)-mercapto-5'-deoxythymidine-3'-phosphoramidite. After coupling this building block the S-trityl group was removed by silver ions. The free thiol moiety was then coupled with a standard phosphoramidite in the presence of tetrazole. After oxidation of the 5'-phosphorothioite with iodine/water the synthesis was continued with standard building blocks up to the desired dodecamer. This backbone modified dodecamer can be cleaved selectively and quantitatively at the P-S bond by silver or mercuric ions under very mild conditions.