The invention relates to compounds including at least one pentopyranosyl nucleic acid and a biomolecule conjugated through a covalent linkage to the at least one pentopyranosyl nucleic acid. The pentopyranosyl nucleic acid has at least two pentopyranosyl nucleotide subunits covalently linked between carbon 4 and carbon 2 of their respective pentopyranosyl rings. The pentopyranosyl nucleic acid does not non-covalently bond or hybridize to naturally occurring DNA or RNA. The invention also relates to compounds comprising a biotin molecule and a pentopyranosyl nucleic acid conjugated through a covalent linkage to the biotin molecule. Processes for preparing conjugates are also described.