A flexible and positively charged PNA analogue with an ethylene-linker to the nucleobase: Synthesis and hybridization properties

The positively charged and relatively flexible PNA unit ethT (Fig. 1) has an ethylene linker between backbone and nucleobase rather than the methylene carbonyl linker normally present in PNA. The synthesis of the corresponding modified monomer, its incorporation into PNA oligomers, and their hybridization properties to DNA are described.