Reagents for the preparation of 5'-tagged oligonucleotides

Claim 1

A nonnucleoside-containing chemical reagent having the formula Q--O--reporter wherein Q is a phosphorus group suitable for attachment to the 5'-hydroxyl group of an oligonucleotide selected from the group of phosphorus groups consisting of ##STR13## and salts thereof; wherein R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of C 3 -C 10 branched alkyl and C 1 -C 10 unbranched alkyl; wherein R 4 is selected from the group consisting of --(CRR 1 ) m (A) n (CRR 1 ) m --, ##STR14## wherein A is selected from the group consisting of ##STR15## wherein R and R 1 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 3 -C 10 branched alkyl, C 1 -C 10 unbranched alkyl, C 6 -C 10 aryl, C 7 -C 12 alkaryl, and C 7 -C 12 aralkyl; wherein m=1-6, n=0-1, p=1-10, and q=0-10, provided that 2m+n≦12 and further provided that 2≦n+p+q ≦13; wherein X is selected from the group consisting of --F, --Cl, --Br, --I, imidazol-1-yl, 1,2,4-triazol-1yl, and 1-hydroxybenzotriazol-O-yl; wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of 4-Cl-C 6 H 4 -O-, 2--Cl--C 6 H 4 --O--, 4--NO 2 --C 6 H 4 --O--, 4NO 2 --C 6l H 4 CH 2 CH 2 --O--, 2,4--NO 2 --C 6 H 3 CH 2 CH 2 --O--, 2,4-Cl 2 --C 6 H 3 --O--, 2,3--Cl 2 --C 6 H 3 --O--, NCCH 2 CH 2 O--, NCCH 2 C(CH 3 ) 2 --O--, CH 3 O--, (Z) 3 CCH 2 --O--, (Z) 3 CC(CH 3 ) 2 --O--, R'S--, R'SCH 2 CH 2 --O--, R'SO 2 CH 2 CH 2 --O--, and R'NH--; wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, and I; wherein R' is selected from the group consisting of H, C 3 -C 10 branched alkyl, C 1 -C 10 unbranched alkyl, C 6 -C 10 aryl, C 7 -C 12 alkaryl, and C 7 -C 12 aralkyl; wherein the --O-- in --O--reporter was formerly part of a hydroxyl group and is covalently linked to said Q; and wherein the --O--reporter is either (i) a fluorescent reporter selected from the group of fluorescent dyes consisting of fluoresceins, benzamidizoles, ethidium,s propidiums, anthracyclines, mithramycins, actinomycins, merocyanines, coumarins, pyrenes, chrysenes, stilbenes, anthracenes, naphthalenes, salicylic acids, benz-2-oxadiazoles, and fluorescamine, or (ii) a protected from of one of said fluorescent reporters.