Safe deprotection strategy for the tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) group during RNA synthesis.

This unit describes two protocols for the deprotection of 2'-O-TBS groups in oligoribonucleotides under mild conditions. Desilylation using ammonium fluoride is applicable to fully protected "RNA only" substrates and desilylation using potassium fluoride is applicable to "mixed RNA/non-RNA" substrates. Characterization of products is accomplished using LC/MS, RP HPLC and SAX HPLC.