Oligonucleotides containing 4-aminobenzimidazole 2'-deoxyribofuranoside (1,3-dideaza-2'-deoxyadenosine; c'c3Ad, 1) were synthesized. For this purpose, various NH2-protecting groups were investigated, and the [(9H-fluoren-9-yl)methoxy]carbonyl group was selected for phosphoramidite protection (+ 4c). Apart from the phosphoramidite 3, the phosphonate 2 was prepared. Compound 1 was incorporated in a homooligonucleotide as well as in oligomers containing naturally occurring nucleosides. The T , values and the thermodynamic data of various duplexes (11 10, 17.10, 18.10) containing 4-aminobenzimidazole were determined. Although d [(c'c'A),,] (11) does not form a Hoogsteen duplex with d(T2,) (10) as observed with ~[(C'A),~], it destabilizes the Watson-Crick duplexes to a much smaller extent than it was expected from a bulged loop structure. Apparently, 4-aminobenzimidazole interacts with regular nucleoside residues within a Watson-Crick duplex structure, most likely by vertical stacking. According to the low basicity of the amino group, only weak H-bonding is expected.