Synthesis on soluble polymers: new reactions and the construction of small molecules

To avoid the heterogeneous reaction conditions of solid-phase chemistry, liquid-phase synthesis provides homogeneity through the use of soluble polymer supports that can be selectively precipitated and filtered to achieve product purification. Peptides, oligonucleotides, and oligosaccharides have been synthesized by this method. Furthermore, combinatorial libraries of small molecules have been produced by liquid-phase synthesis to aid in the search for new pharmaceutical agents including compounds active against HIV. Soluble polymeric reagents have also been developed for greater ease and efficiency in organic synthesis.