Reagent for introducing pyrene residues in oligonucleotides.

A novel pyrenyl-containing phosphoramidite reagent, N-4-(1-pyrenyl)butyryl]-O1-(4,4'-dimethoxytrityl)-O2- (diisopropylamino)(2-cyanoethoxy)phosphino]-3-amino-1 ,2-propanediol (5), has been synthesized from 4-(1-pyrenyl)butanoic acid in four steps with the 52% overall yield and used to incorporate pyrene residue(s) into oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides 6 and 7, bearing one or two pyrenes at the 5'-terminus, have been prepared by means of that reagent, characterized with fluorescence spectra, and successfully used as primers in a polymerase chain reaction.