Selective uncaging of DNA through reaction rate selectivity.

The synthesis and use of the new nucleobase-caged nucleotides dT(pHP) and dT(NDEACM) is reported. Through a combination of time and wavelength selectivity four levels of selective uncaging with only two cages, and only two wavelengths, were obtained. The new residue dT(pHP) can be uncaged at 313 nm without the formation of unwanted cyclic pyridine dimers.