Improvements in the synthesis, deprotection and purification of oligoribonucleotides are described. These advances allow for reduced synthesis and deprotection times, while improving product yield. Coupling times are reduced by half using 5-ethyrthic-1 H-tetrazole (S-ethyltetrazole) as the activator. Base and 2′-O-t-butyldimethylsllyl deprotection with methylamlne (MA) and anhydrous trtethylamlne/hydrogen fluoride In W-methylpyrrolidinone (TEAHF/NMP), respectively, requires a fraction of the time necessitated by current standard methods. In addition, the ease of ollgoribonucleotlde purification and analysis have been significantly enhanced using anion exchange chromatography. These new methods Improve the yield and quality of the oligoribonucleotides synthesized. Hammerhead ribozymes synthesized utilizing the described methods exhibited no diminution in catalytic activity.