Synthesis of a benzotriazole phosphoramidite for attachment of oligonucleotides to metal surfaces

A method for the addition of a benzotriazole moiety to the 5′-terminus of an oligonucleotide via phosphoramidite chemistry has been developed. Use of a monomethoxytrityl protecting group on the benzotriazole allowed fast on column detritylation purification by reverse-phase HPLC. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of the modified oligonucleotides was obtained from silver colloid.