RNA can be rapidly synthesized using protected ribonucleoside phosphoramidite monomers that carry 2-nitrobenzyloxymethyl groups on their 2-hydroxyls. These protecting groups are removed from the oligoribonucleotide products by exposure to long-wave UV light.
Protected ribonucleotide monomers are more difficult to obtain than their 2'-deoxy counterparts because of the need to protect the 2'-hydroxy function. This unit describes the stepwise preparation of suitably 2'-protected ribonucleosides using two protecting groups: 2-nitrobenzyloxymethyl (NBOM) and tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS). In addition, details are given for protecting the 5'-hydroxyl and the nucleobase, yielding nucleosides that are easily converted to phosphoramidite or H-phosphonate derivatives for automated oligoribonucleotide synthesis.
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