A convenient synthesis of the cytidyl 3′-terminal monomer for solid-phase synthesis of RNG oligonucleotides

Replacing the phosphodiester backbone of RNA with positively charged guanidinium linkages has been shown to enable RNA oligomers to overcome electrostatic repulsion and bind double-stranded DNA in a triplex with high affinity. Ribonucleotide monomers with the ability to form guanidinium linkages have been synthesized for the generation of ribooligonucleotides with guanidinium linkages (RNGs) through solid-phase synthesis. We report herein an efficient method for the synthesis of N4-benzoyl-2′-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-5′-N-(4-monomethoxytritylamino)-3′-O-succinyl-5′-deoxycytidine, a new monomer required for the solid-phase synthesis of cytidyl RNG oligonucleotides.