Concepts of Combinatorial Chemistry and Combinatorial Technologies

Combinatorial Chemistry and Combinatorial Technology (CC/CT) are a new interdisciplinary field joining computerassisted combinatorial chemistry with automated parallel synthesis of chemical ìlibrariesî followed by automated screening. The main purpose of computer assisted combinatorial chemistry is to generate thousands structurally diverse compounds as libraries, maximising their diversity, which are then considered in an experimental parallel automated synthesis and screening on the basis of their properties. The key issue is to integrate all important steps of CC/CT in a single, multidisciplinary approach. This nascent technology already produced more new compounds in just a few years than the pharmaceutical industry did in its entire history. Combinatorial chemistry has turned traditional chemistry upside down. It required chemists not to think in terms of synthesizing single, well-characterized compounds but in terms of simultaneously synthesizing large populations of compounds. It also required that those people involved with information management and computational chemistry systems address these same issues as the chemists. While CC/CT had the greatest impact on the drug industry, combinatorial methods need not be restricted to pharmaceutical applications. Whenever high numbers of compounds have to be prepared for testing, this technique can be used. For example, agricultural research, new materials and new catalysts research and development stand to gain from this technology. However, for the time being, main emphasis is still on pharmaceutical research. Most major pharmaceutical companies are active in the field. It is generally accepted that the method has a great potential for finding leads in the drug discovery process where the technology is expected to contribute to the reduction in time and cost. Many countries have emphasized the urgent need to get acquainted with Combinatorial Technologies in order to enable local enterprises to remain competitive and economically viable in the coming decades and gain expertise on application practices of combinatorial technology. In view of global competition, CC/CT together with molecular modeling may be considered as powerful tools for the implementation and/or the increase of a countryís capabilities in drug design, agrochemistry, new materials and new catalysts. The above considerations become even more significant if it is taken into account that many countries have abundant natural resources which are presently well below their proper exploitation. Combinatorial chemistry can enhance the potential of these resources.