Abstract: A process for the synthesis of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides is provided which comprises assembling an oligonucleotide bound to a solid support in the presence of acetonitrile; prior to cleaving the oligonucleotide from the solid support removing the acetonitrile; and cleaving the oligonucleotide from the solid support. The process is particularly suited to the large scale synthesis of nucleotides.

Abstract: A method for preparing a solid support material for carrying out a chemical reaction, said method comprising the following steps: (i) reacting an amino functionalised solid material with a carboxylic acid having at least two similarly protected amino groups to form amide bonds between them, (ii) removing protecting groups in a single step, (iii) optionally repeating steps (i) and (ii) one or more times using the product of the preceding step as the amino functionalised solid material, and (iv) connecting a linkage agent to at least some of the free NH2 groups of the product. The method increases the loading capacity of the solid support material. It is particularly useful in connection with peptide synthesis.

Abstract: A belt-line window molding. The molding comprises a main body and a cover member that snaps onto the main body.