Reagents for the preparation of 5'-tagged oligonucleotides

A nonnucleoside-containing chemical reagent having the formula

• Q--O--reporter
• wherein Q is a phosphorus group suitable for attachment to the 5'-hydroxyl group of an oligonucleotide selected from the group of phosphorus groups consisting of ##STR13## and salts thereof;
• wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 branched alkyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 unbranched alkyl;
• wherein R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of --(CRR.sup.1).sub.m (A).sub.n (CRR.sup.1).sub.m --, ##STR14## wherein A is selected from the group consisting of ##STR15## wherein R and R.sup.1 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 branched alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 unbranched alkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 alkaryl, and C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 aralkyl;
• wherein m=1-6, n=0-1, p=1-10, and q=0-10, provided that 2m+n.ltoreq.12 and further provided that 2.ltoreq.n+p+q .ltoreq.13;
• wherein X is selected from the group consisting of --F, --Cl, --Br, --I, imidazol-1-yl, 1,2,4-triazol-1yl, and 1-hydroxybenzotriazol-O-yl;
• wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of 4-Cl-C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -O-, 2--Cl--C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --O--, 4--NO.sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --O--, 4NO.sub.2 --C.sub.6l H.sub.4 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O--, 2,4--NO.sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.3 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O--, 2,4-Cl.sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.3 --O--, 2,3--Cl.sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.3 --O--, NCCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O--, NCCH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 --O--, CH.sub.3 O--, (Z).sub.3 CCH.sub.2 --O--, (Z).sub.3 CC(CH.sub.3).sub.2 --O--, R'S--, R'SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O--, R'SO.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O--, and R'NH--;
• wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, and I;
• wherein R' is selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 branched alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 unbranched alkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 alkaryl, and C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 aralkyl;
• wherein the --O-- in --O--reporter was formerly part of a hydroxyl group and is covalently linked to said Q;
• and
• wherein the --O--reporter is either (i) a fluorescent reporter selected from the group of fluorescent dyes consisting of fluoresceins, benzamidizoles, ethidium,s propidiums, anthracyclines, mithramycins, actinomycins, merocyanines, coumarins, pyrenes, chrysenes, stilbenes, anthracenes, naphthalenes, salicylic acids, benz-2-oxadiazoles, and fluorescamine, or (ii) a protected from of one of said fluorescent reporters.