2-Diphenylmethylsilylethyl (DPSE): a versatile protecting group for oligodeoxyribonucleotide synthesis.

2-Diphenylmethylsilylethyl (DPSE) is a new protecting group for the internucleotidic bonds in the solid-support and solution-phase synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides by the phosphoramidite approach. This group is stable under acidic conditions and can be removed by a beta-fragmentation mechanism under mild conditions using aqueous NH4OH. Alternatively, this group can also be removed using tetrafluorosilane in acetonitrile.