Solid-supported reagents for multi-step organic synthesis: preparation and application.

Since the early days of combinatorial chemistry solid-phase organic synthesis has been the method of choice for the production of large libraries. Solution-phase synthesis is again gaining importance especially for the synthesis of parallel arrays of smaller, focussed libraries containing single compounds with high degrees of purity. In the field of solution-phase library generation, the use of solid-supported reagents, catalysts and scavengers is emerging as a leading strategy, combining the advantages of both solid-phase organic synthesis (e.g. allowing the employment of an excess of reagent without the need for additional purification steps) and solution-phase chemistry (e.g. the ease of monitoring the progress of the reactions by applying LC-MS, TLC or standard NMR techniques). An account of some of the most recent advances in this area of research will be presented.