Patent ID: 7227016

Claim:
A method of preparing a phosphorus-linked oilgonucleotide comprising: providing a sample containing a plurality of oligonucleotides, said oligonucleotides linked to a solid support medium, said oligonucleotides comprising a plurality of nucleosides and a plurality of protected phosphorus linkages; contacting said oligonucleotides with a deprotecting agent to remove phosphorus protecting groups from said oligonucleotides, wherein said oligonucleotides remain linked to said solid support medium during said contacting; said deprotecting reagent comprising at least one secondary amine, the conjugate acid of said secondary amine having a pKa of from about 8 to about 11; optionally washing said oligonucleotides; and reacting said oligonucleotides with-a cleaving reagent, whereby the oligonucleotides are cleaved from the solid support medium.