Use of a volatile buffer system in ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography of oligonucleotides.

A volatile buffer has been adapted for use with ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography in the analysis and preparation of oligonucleotides. The system employs a commercial weakly basic anion-exchange column containing a DEAE-derivatized silica gel and eluted with a volatile buffer gradient of triethylamine acetate and acetonitrile. Nucleic acid digests and oligonucleotides synthesized by chemical or enzymatic methods can be analyzed or purified with nearly quantitative recovery following solvent volatilization.