Abstract: Provided is a hydroxyl-protected alcohol comprising a thermolabile hydroxyl-protecting group comprising a 2-pyridyl substituent and a precursor of the thermolabile hydroxyl-protected alcohol. An exemplary thermolabile hydroxyl-protected alcohol is represented by the formula Pg-O—R, wherein Pg is a protecting group of the formula: (Formula) wherein: A is a 2-pyridyl; Z is CH2 or NR1; R1, R2, R2?, R3 and R3? are the same or different and each can be, e.g., H, alkyl, or alkyl comprising an aryl substituent; W is CO, CS, or SO; and R is the organic residue of the hydroxyl-protected alcohol. Also provided is a method of producing an alcohol, which method comprises heating the hydroxyl-protected alcohol, which optionally may be obtained from a precursor, at a temperature effective to cleave the hydroxyl-protecting group. The method can be used to produce oligonucleotides.

Abstract: A test fixture for testing a circuit board, comprising a top plate defining a board-bearing surface for receiving the circuit board to be tested thereon. The test fixture comprises a lid having a lid frame defining a peripheral rim, and a lid diaphragm movably mounted to the frame opposite the peripheral rim; the lid diaphragm defines an inner surface to which is mounted a circuit board securing member. The lid is movable between a first position where the frame rim engages the top plate to define a test chamber about the board-bearing surface and between the top plate, the frame and the diaphragm, and a second position where the lid is moved away from the top plate to allow access to the test chamber.

Abstract: Provided are a hydroxyl-protected alcohol of the formula R—O-Pg, wherein Pg is a protecting group of the Formulae (I), (II), wherein Y is R1, OR1, or NR1R1a; Z is O, NR2 or CR2R2a; W is CO or SO; R1, R1a, R2, R2a, R3, R3a, R4 and R4a include H, a saturated or unsaturated alkyl, an aryl, and a saturated or unsaturated alkyl comprising an aryl; a, b, c, d, e and f include H, a halogen, a saturated or unsaturated alkyl, a hydroxyl, an alkoxy, an aryloxy, an aralkoxy, a cyano, a nitro, a sulfhydryl, an alkyl or aryl sulfoxy, are alkyl or aryl sulfonyl, a keto, a thioketo, an ester, an amide, an amino, an alkylamino or a dialkylamino; and R represents the organic residue of the hydroxyl-protected alcohol; a hydroxyl-protected alcohol which includes a thermally cleavable 2-amidoethoxycarbonyl hydroxyl-protecting group; and a deprotection method, which includes heating the hydroxyl-protected alcohol at a temperature effective to cleave thermally the hydroxyl-protecting group therefrom.