disclosed are oligonucleoside boranophosphates , or salts thereof , comprising a chain of natural or modified ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides , containing at least one boronated internucleotide phospodiester linkage of the formula : ## str1 ## w is selected from the group consisting of ═ o , ═ s , -- opr , and -- spr where pr is a base - labile protecting group . x is selected from the group consisting of -- bh 3 , -- bh 2 r 1 , -- bhr 1 r 2 and -- br 1 r 2 r 3 . r 1 is selected from the group consisting of -- r 4 , -- cooh , -- coor 4 , -- conhr 4 , -- con 2 , -- cn + r 4 z - , wherein z - is an anion , -- cn , carboxycholesteryl and carboxybenzyl , wherein r 4 is c1 to c18 alkyl . r 2 is selected from the group consisting of -- r 5 , -- cooh , -- coor 5 , -- conhr 5 , -- con 2 , -- cn + r 5 z - , wherein z - is an anion , -- cn , carboxy - cholesteryl and carboxybenzyl , wherein r 5 is c1 to c18 alkyl . r 3 is selected from the group consisting of c1 to c3 alkyl . most preferably , x is -- bh 3 and w is = 0 . compounds of formula are useful as antisense agents and probes in molecular biology , and have pharmacological activities including anti - inflammatory , antihyperlipidemic , and antineoplastic activity .