Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Using Modified Synthetic Oligonucleotides to Assay Nucleic Acid-Metabolizing Enzymes
Published on: July 5, 2024
Rapid chemical ligation of oligonucleotides by the Diels-Alder reaction
Afaf H El-Sagheer1, Vee Vee Cheong, Tom Brown
1School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, UK SO17 1BJ. ahes@soton.ac.uk
Abstract:
Extremely fast and efficient Diels-Alder chemical ligation of furan and maleimide oligonucleotides has been carried out in aqueous buffer. It was possible to ligate three oligonucleotides simultaneously in a controlled manner with the aid of a complementary splint. The templated reactions proceeded within 1 min at room temperature whereas non-templated reactions were slow and incomplete. Rapid and clean methods of DNA ligation such as the one demonstrated here have potential uses in biology and nanotechnology.
Related Concept Videos
[4+2] Cycloaddition of Conjugated Dienes: Diels–Alder Reaction
Diels–Alder Reaction Forming Cyclic Products: Stereochemistry
Diels–Alder Reaction: Characteristics of Dienes
Characteristics of the diene
Conformation
The simplest example of a diene is 1,3-butadiene, an acyclic conjugated π system. At room temperature, the molecule exists as a mixture of s-cis and s-trans conformers by virtue of rotation around the carbon–carbon single bond. Although the s-trans isomer is more stable, the...
Cycloaddition Reactions: Overview
Diels–Alder Reaction Forming Bridged Bicyclic Products: Stereochemistry
Diels–Alder Reaction: Characteristics of Dienophiles
Characteristics of Dienophiles
Generally, the best dienophiles are alkenes containing electron-withdrawing substituents such as carbonyl, nitrile, and nitro groups. The feasibility of a Diels–Alder reaction depends on...
