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Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) were synthesized by a modified Merrifield method using several improvements. Activation by O-[benzotriazol-1-yl]-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate in combination with in situ neutralization of the resin allowed efficient coupling of all four Boc-protected PNA monomers within 30 min. HPLC analysis of the crude product obtained from a fully automated synthesis of the model PNA oligomer H-CGGACTAAGTCCATTGC-Gly-NH2, indicated an average yield per synthetic cycle of 97.1%. N1-benzyloxycarbonyl-N6(3)-methylimidazole triflate substantially outperformed acetic anhydride as a capping reagent. The resin-bound PNAs were successfully cleaved by the 'low-high' trifluoromethanesulphonic acid procedure.

The preparation of mixed-sequence PNAs (PNAs containing the four natural nucleobases; thymine, cytosine, adenine, and guanine) is described. The PNA monomers containing thymine, Cbz-protected cytosine, or adenine or benzyl-protected guanine were prepared via convergent syntheses. Subsequent to introduction of the carboxymethyl linker at N-1 of the pyrimidines or N-9 of the purines and suitable protection of exocyclic groups, the nucleobase derivatives were coupled to the Boc-protected backbone esters 10a or 10b and finally hydrolyzed affording the monomers 12a-d. The exocyclic amino groups of cytosine and adenine were protected with a benzyloxycarbonyl group. The exocyclic amino groups of guanine was left unprotected whereas O 6 was protected as the benzyl ether. Two mixed-sequence 10-mers, each with five purines incorporated, and a mixed-sequence 15-mer containing seven purines were assembled essentially following standard solid phase peptide synthesis protocols

Ribonucleosides, chlorobis(amino)phosphines and thiols react via phosphorothioamidites to form phosphorothioites. Oxidation with sulphur gives ribonucleoside phosphorodithioate triesters which after deprotection yields the phosphorodithioate ribonucleoside analogues.