Mechanistic studies on the phosphoramidite coupling reaction in oligonucleotide synthesis. I. Evidence for nucleophilic catalysis by tetrazole and rate variations with the phosphorus substituents.

Tetrazole catalyzed reactions of a series of phosphoramidites, 5'-O-DMTdT-3'-O-P(OR1)NR2(2) (1a-h), with 3'-O-SiButPh2-6-N-benzoyl-dA (2a) in acetonitrile solution have been studied. It is found that the coupling rate depends very much on whether tetrazole is added before or after 2a, and that dialkylammonium tetrazolide salts are inhibitors. These and other facts are evidence that the reactions are subjected to nucleophilic catalysis by tetrazole, in addition to acid catalysis. The rate variations with phosphorus substituents of 1a-h are NEt2 greater than NPri2 greater than N(CH2CH2)O greater than NMePh, and OMe greater than OCH2CH2CN greater than OCHMeCH2CN greater than OCMe2CH2CN much greater than OC6H4Cl. The inhibitor properties of dialkylammonium tetrazolides have practical consequences for the efficiency of DNA syntheses, when in situ prepared phosphoramidites are used; the same would apply for segmented, simultaneous syntheses or syntheses where recycling is performed.