An efficient and versatile solid-phase synthesis of 5'- and 3'-conjugated oligonucleotides.

[reaction: see text] An easy and efficient solid-phase strategy to obtain 5'- and 3'-oligonucleotide conjugates in highly pure form has been developed. Ad hoc derivatized solid supports, to which the first nucleoside unit can be attached through a phosphate linkage, have been exploited both in a pre- and post-DNA assembly conjugation approach. A number of 5'- or 3'- oligonucleotide conjugates, incorporating a variety of labels covalently linked through a phosphodiester or a phosphoramidate bond, have been synthesized and characterized.