Synthesis and electrochemical studies of an anthraquinone-conjugated nucleoside and derived oligonucleotides.

The synthesis of a 2'-deoxyuridine nucleoside linked to an anthraquinone moiety, and its incorporation into oligonucleotides are described, including a facile oxidative demethylation with phenyliodine(iii) bis(trifluoroacetate) to reveal the anthraquinone motif. Furthermore, some useful physical and electrochemical properties of the obtained oligonucleotide are also reported, which allow its principal use in electrochemical DNA assays.