Patent ID: 7612197

Claim:
A hydroxyl-protected alcohol of the formula Pg-O—R, wherein Pg is a protecting group of the formula: wherein: A is a 2-pyridyl group of the formula: Z is CH 2 or NR 1 ; R 1 , R 2 , R 2′ , R 3 and R 3′ are the same or different and each is H, a saturated alkyl, an unsaturated alkyl, an aryl, a saturated alkyl comprising an aryl substituent, or an unsaturated alkyl comprising an aryl substituent, wherein the saturated alkyl, unsaturated alkyl and aryl portions are optionally substituted; R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7 are the same or different and each is H, an amino, a monoalkylamino, a dialkylamino, a hydroxy, an alkoxy, a halogen, an amide, a saturated alkyl, an unsaturated alkyl, an aryl, a saturated alkyl comprising an aryl, or an unsaturated alkyl comprising an aryl; W is CO; and R is a nucleoside, an oligonucleotide, or an oligomer comprising a nucleoside, wherein the protecting group is thermolabile.