Functionalized supports for polynucleotide synthesis are disclosed. The supports have linker moieties that are stable to conditions used in polynucleotide synthesis, but may be cleaved to release synthesized polynucleotides from the support. Methods of making the functionalized supports and methods of using are also disclosed. In particular embodiments of methods of making the functionalized supports, a solid support, on which an available reactive group is bound, is contacted with a reagent having the structure (I) Phos-Cgp-Trl-Cgp'Nucl (I) wherein the groups are defined as follows: Phos is a reactive phosphorus group capable of specifically reacting with an available reactive group on the support, Trl is a triaryl methyl linker group having three aryl groups, each bound to a central methyl carbon, at least one of said three aryl groups having one or more substituents, Cgp is a linking group linking the reactive phosphorus group and the triaryl methyl linker group, or is a bond linking the reactive phosphorus group and the triaryl methyl linker group, Nucl is a nucleoside moiety, wherein the nucleoside moiety is optionally part of a polynucleotide moiety, and Cgp' is a linking group linking the nucleoside moiety and the triaryl methyl linker group, or is a bond linking the nucleoside moiety and the triaryl methyl linker group. In typical embodiments, the solid support is contacted with the reagent having the structure (I) under conditions and for a time sufficient to result in a functionalized support having a nucleoside moiety bound to the solid support via a triaryl methyl linker group.