Abstract: A method of synthesizing a polynucleotide which can, for example, be used during fabrication of an array. A second nucleoside is coupled to a first nucleoside through a phosphite linkage, with the second nucleoside having a hydroxyl protecting group that is a non-carbonate protecting group. The product of the foregoing step is exposed to a composition which both oxidizes the formed phosphite to a phosphate and deprotects the protected hydroxyl of the coupled nucleoside. The method has particular application to fabricating an addressable array of polynucleotides on a substrate which carries substrate bound moieties each with a hydroxyl group.

Abstract: A method of capping a hydroxy group of a moiety, comprising coupling the moiety to a phosphor or phosphite derivative of a protected alcohol, so as to form the corresponding phosphate or phosphite between the hydroxy and phosphor or phosphite groups. The hydroxy group may be later de-capped by hydrolyzing the resulting compound to deprotect the protected alcohol and cleave the phosphate from the moiety so as to regenerate the hydroxy group of the moiety. The method has particular application to fabrication of addressable polynucleotide arrays and allows failed sequences, as well as inter-feature regions, to be left with a free hydroxy group at the ends of the molecules (failed sequences or linkers) at such locations.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a polynucleotide which can, for example, be used during fabrication of an array. A second nucleoside is coupled to a first nucleoside through a phosphite linkage, with the second nucleoside having a hydroxyl protecting group that is a non-carbonate protecting group. The product of the foregoing step is exposed to a composition which both oxidizes the formed phosphite to a phosphate and deprotects the protected hydroxyl of the coupled nucleoside. The method has particular application to fabricating an addressable array of polynucleotides on a substrate which carries substrate bound moieties each with a hydroxyl group.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for synthesis of polymers, and specifically teaches the use of polymeric sheets suitable for the synthesis of small quantities of oligonucleotides such as DNA.