4,4′-Dimethoxytrityl group derived from secondary alcohols: Are they removed slowly under acidic conditions?

Removal of 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl (DMT) groups from primary and secondary hydroxyl functionality was investigated. It was observed that deblocking of DMT group from secondary hydroxyl group of molecules attached to solid support under acidic conditions occurred relatively slowly compared to primary hydroxyl group. Marginal difference in rate of detritylation was observed between DMT group attached to 5′-hydroxyl group of deoxyribonucleoside and 2′-O-methoxyethylribonucleoside when attached to one kind of support. Removal of DMT from nucleoside attached to OligoPrep solid support was found to be slow.