Development of rapid and reliable RNA synthesis strategies is fueled by the emergence of critical functional and regulatory roles for RNA, including RNA interference. Traditional methods are based on 5'-dimethoxytrityl-2'-silyl protection strategies which are derivatives of highly successful DNA synthesis methods. These approaches are limited in their ability to rapidly produce oligos of sufficient purity and length for genomic and pharmaceutical applications. Recently, new protection chemistries have been developed that circumvent the many limitations of 2'-silyl protection. The 5'-silyl-2'-bis(acetoxyethoxy)methyl strategy is the most notable, as it provides dramatic improvements--faster coupling rates, higher yields, greater product purity and superior post-synthetic ease-of-handling--affording a reliable high-speed chemical RNA synthesis technology.