Baseless nucleotide analogues and uses thereof

1. An analog compound having formula (I):

wherein

X is a backbone spacer;

t is 0 or 1;

R is a redox active moiety;

L 1 and L 2 are linkers;

n=0 or 1;

m=0 or 1;

wherein n+m is at least 1;

P 1 and P 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phosphoramidite, a protecting group, and a nucleoside containing group, wherein at least one of P 1 and P 2 is said protecting group or said nucleoside containing group; and

q is greater than or equal to 1.

2. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said redox active moiety comprises a metallocene.

3. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said redox active moiety comprises a metallocene derivative.

4. A compound according to claim 2 , wherein said metallocene is a ferrocene.

5. A compound according to claim 3 , wherein said metallocene derivative is a ferrocene derivative.

6. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said protection groups P 1 or P 2 is dimethoxytrityl (“DMT”).

7. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said backbone spacer X is a C 3 alkyl group.

8. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said linkers L 1 and L 2 are C 1 alkyl and n is 1 and m is 4.

9. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said backbone spacer is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and substituted alkyl.

10. A compound according to claim 1 , wherein said linkers are selected from the group consisting of alkyl and substituted alkyl.

11. A compound according to claim 1 , having the formula (II):

wherein R 1 , are R 2 are independently selected from H and halogen.

12. A compound according to claim 11 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are H.

13. A compound according to claim 11 , wherein R 1 is H and R 2 is Cl.

14. A compound according to claim 11 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are Cl.

15. A compound having the formula (III)

16. A composition comprising a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 15 .

17. A nucleic acid derivative comprising a compound according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of P 1 and P 2 is a nucleoside containing group.

18. A nucleic acid derivative according to claim 17 , wherein both P 1 and P 2 are nucleoside containing groups.

19. A method of detecting a target nucleic acid comprising:

a) providing a substrate comprising:

i) an electrode;

ii) a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on said electrode; and

iii) a capture probe disposed on said electrode, wherein said capture probe binds to said target nucleic acid;

b) forming a complex comprising said capture probe, said target nucleic acid, and a label probe comprising the compound according to any one of claims 1 - 7 and 9 - 16 , and

c) detecting electron transfer from a redox active moiety of said label probe to said conductive surface of said electrode to detect said target nucleic acid.

20. A kit comprising one or more members from the group consisting of a compound according to claim 1 and a nucleic acid derivative according to claim 17 .

21. A compound of formula W330.

22. Compositions comprising W330 incorporated as a linker.