Invited Review in 2016

We demonstrate a new methodology of DNA and RNA functionalization with a base surrogate prepared from d-threoninol. With this surrogate, we can introduce functional molecules at any position in the sequence. Our methodology is conceptually similar to copolymerization; phosphoramidite monomers of base surrogates, and natural nucleotides are ‘copolymerized’ on solid supports to prepare functional oligonucleotides. The incorporation of intercalating moieties allows for the design of four stable functional motifs: wedges, interstrand-wedges, dimers and clusters. By selecting suitable functional molecules and motifs, we can design novel photofunctional oligonucleotides.

Polymers that contain arylene groups in their main chain are of significant importance because of their applications to semiconducting materials or engineering plastics. Therefore, controlled methods for the synthesis of arylene-containing polymers based on chain-growth polymerization have been intensively developed in polymer chemistry. This review focuses on the advances in chain-growth polymerization accompanied by formation/introduction of arylene groups into polymer main chains.