Synthesis and properties of carbohydrate–phosphate backbone-modified oligonucleotide analogues and nucleic acid mimetics

Advances in the synthesis of oligo(deoxy)ribonu- Advances in the synthesis of oligo(deoxy)ribonu- cleotide analogues and nucleic acid mimetics made in the cleotide analogues and nucleic acid mimetics made in the last decade are summarized. Attention is focused on new last decade are summarized. Attention is focused on new methods for the synthesis of derivatives with a modified methods for the synthesis of derivatives with a modified ribose-phosphate backbone (phosphorothioate, borano- ribose-phosphate backbone (phosphorothioate, borano- phosphate, and nucleoside phosphonate derivatives) and phosphate, and nucleoside phosphonate derivatives) and derivatives devoid of the phosphate group. Among nucleic derivatives devoid of the phosphate group. Among nucleic acid mimetics, conformationally restricted modified peptide acid mimetics, conformationally restricted modified peptide nucleic acids, including those bearing a negative or positive nucleic acids, including those bearing a negative or positive charge, and morpholino oligomers are considered. Advan- charge, and morpholino oligomers are considered. Advan- tages and drawbacks of the main types of analogues as tages and drawbacks of the main types of analogues as regards the complexity of the synthesis and the possibility of regards the complexity of the synthesis and the possibility of their application as antisense agents or reagents for hybrid- their application as antisense agents or reagents for hybrid- ization analysis are compared. The bibliography includes ization analysis are compared. The bibliography includes 282 references 282 references..