Synthesis of 2′-hydrazine oligonucleotides and their efficient conjugation with aldehydes and 1,3-diketones

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides that contain a novel nucleoside, 2′-O-(2-hydrazinoethyl)uridine, were synthesised by NaBH3CN reduction of hydrazones formed from 2′-O-(2-oxoethyl)oligonucleotides with FmocNHNH2, followed by concd aq NH3 deprotection. The 2′-hydrazine oligonucleotides obtained were then used to synthesise a number of conjugates with aldehydes via hydrazone formation and with1,3-diketones via pyrazole formation. The method was shown to be applicable for the preparation of oligonucleotide–peptide conjugates.