Wavelength‐Selective Uncaging of Oligonucleotides

Caged compounds are light-sensitive molecules with temporarily inactivated biological function. The active compound is released upon irradiation, in which exact spatial and temporal control is accomplished. Beyond this inherently irreversible concept of triggering, the idea of multi-wavelength uncaging provides experiments with more complexity. This unit describes the syntheses of protected nucleoside phosphoramidites of caged dTNpHP [pHP = (p-hydroxyphenacyl)], dTDEACM {DEACM = [(7-diethylaminocoumarin-4-yl)methyl]} or a dCNDBF {NDBF = [1-(3-nitrodibenzofuran-1-yl)ethyl]} modification on the nucleobase, their incorporation in oligonucleotides, characterization, and their wavelength-selective uncaging up to four levels. Curr. Protoc. Nucleic Acid Chem. 57:6.11.1-6.11.32. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: uncaging; photolabile-protecting groups; selective photochemistry; quantum yields