From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia.
In
chemistry a divergent
synthesis is a strategy with
the aim to improve the effiency of
chemical synthesis. It is
often an alternative to
convergent synthesis or linear
synthesis.
In one strategy divergent
synthesis aims to generate a
library of
chemical compounds by first
reacting a molecule with a set of
reactants. The next generation of
compounds is generated by further
reactions with each compound in
generation 1. This methodology
quickly diverges to large numbers
of new compounds
- A generates A1, A2, A3, A4,
A5 in generation 1
- A1 generates A11, A12, A13
in generation 2 and so on.
The entire library of new
chemical compounds for instance
sugars
[1] can then be screened for
desirable properties.
In another strategy divergent
synthesis starts from a molecule
as a central core from which
successive generations of building
blocks are added. A good example
is the divergent synthesis of
dendrimers for example
[2] where in each generation
new monomer reacts to the growing
surface of the sphere.
