Oligodeoxynucleotides containing N1-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine and N6-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine

This unit describes a simple and efficient synthesis of the phosphoramidite derivative of N(1)-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine from 2'-deoxyadenosine. The synthesis starts with the monomethoxytritylation of 2'-deoxyadenosine followed by methylation of 5'-O-protected nucleoside at N-1. Subsequent N-chloroacetylation leads to N(6)-chloroacetyl-N(1)-methyl-5'-O-(p-anisyldiphenylmethyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine, which is finally converted to its 3' phosphoramidite derivative. This phosphoramidite is used to incorporate N(1)-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine into synthetic oligonucleotides. N-Chloroacetyl protection and controlled anhydrous deprotection conditions are used to avoid the Dimroth rearrangement.