Use of new phosphonylating and coupling agents in the synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides via the H-phosphonate approach.

New phosphonylating and coupling agents for the synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides via H-phosphonate approach have been developed. Tris(1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyl) phosphite, prepared by the reaction of lithium salt of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propoxide with PCl3, reacts with deoxyribonucleosides in the presence of a catalytic amount of triethylamine to produce in the high yield the corresponding deoxyribonucleoside 3'-H-phosphonate units. The use of a new coupling reagent, 1,3-dimethyl-2-chloro-imidazolinium chloride (DMCI) for the internucleotidic H-phosphonate bond formation via the H-phosphonate approach is also discussed in detail.