Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry and Virtual Combinatorial Libraries

Abstract

The reversible connection between sets of basic components allows the generation of a large collection of compounds constituted by all possible combinations that are potentially available. It makes virtual combinatorial libraries of substances accessible through a dynamic approach to combinatorial chemistry. The thermodynamically-driven evolution of the system leads to the actual expression of the constituent(s) that present(s) the best binding to/molecular recognition with the target site (see diagram). The general concept of this methodology has wide applications in a variety of areas of science and technology.