An operationally simple and efficient method for the synthesis of a wide range of alkylated nucleotides under mild conditions was developed. This improved method furnishes alkylated nucleotides fi＇om both single nucleotides and oligonucleotides, and were prepared in high yields of 81% to 91%. Alkyl modified aptamer AS1411s were synthesized using this method and the biological activity screening results demonstrated that alkylation at the 1^st P-S site on yielded stronger target protein binding capacity, greater growth suppression effects against K562 and HL-60 cell lines, and improved serum stability, as compared with AS1411. This modified aptamer may be useful in tumor detection and treatment.
