A new approach to the synthesis of oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide phosphorothioates in solution is described; it is based on H-phosphonate coupling at− 40° C, followed by in situ sulfur-transfer with either N-[(4-chlorophenyl) sulfanyl] phthalimide19 or 4-[(2-cyanoethyl) sulfanyl] morpholine-3, 5-dione 21.