Abstract A new design is presented for the incorporation of spiropyran photoswitches into nucleic acids by oligonucleotide solid phase synthesis. This design enables interaction of the 6-nitrospirobenzopyran (NitroBIPS) photoswitch with the adjacent nucleobases and leaves the photochemical properties of NitroBIPS intact. UV/Vis spectroscopy and HPLC revealed that NitroBIPS incorporated into DNA consists of up to 40% merocyanine in its ...
