An overview of recent progress in modern synthetic approach—combinatorial synthesis

Abstract

Background: In recent times, a powerful tool of combinatorial synthesis has been used for the preparation of large chemical entities through a small set up of reactions between different building blocks using solid-phase and solution-phase techniques. This method reduced the time and cost of the drug discovery process substantially. Main text: Thousands of compounds are synthesised in a few reactions through combinatorial synthesis instead of getting a few compounds in the traditional method. This method also helps to identify chemical lead of the compounds and optimise them through the biological screening using a high-throughput method. There is no review concerning the recent research finding of combinatorial synthesis. Hence, an attempt had been made on the latest research findings (2002–2020) of newly synthesised compounds using combinatorial synthesis and their biological activities. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, the current review has completely analysed the importance of combinatorial synthesis and furnished an overview of solid-phase and solution-phase techniques as well as helped mankind by improving higher productivity at low cost, lead identification and optimization and preventing environmental pollution. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]