Abstract: There is disclosed nucleotides and nucleotide analogs having a protecting or “caging” group. There is further disclosed oligonucleotides and oligonucleotides analogs formed having a protecting or “caging” group. There is further disclosed a method for decaging the nucleotides and nucleotide analogs having a protecting or “caging” group and oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide analogs having a caging group.