Question

Light directed synthesis on silica wafers is a part of

• A. Bulk synthesis
• B. Combinatorial synthesis
• C. Assymetric synthesis
• D. Inorganic synthesis

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To understand why "light directed synthesis on silica wafers" is a part of combinatorial synthesis, let's delve into the specifics of what combinatorial synthesis entails and why it is relevant here.

Combinatorial Synthesis: This methodology involves creating a large number of chemical compounds by combining sets of building blocks in all possible ways. It's predominantly used in the field of drug discovery and material science. The key attribute of combinatorial synthesis is to quickly generate a diverse range of compounds. This is particularly important in the pharmaceutical industry, where generating new molecules efficiently can lead to faster drug discovery.

In the context of the question, "light directed synthesis on silica wafers" refers to a method where light is used to selectively remove protective groups, allowing for sequential building of complex molecules on a surface. This technique is widely employed in the synthesis of large libraries of compounds, such as those used in drug discovery, epitomizing the essence of combinatorial synthesis.

Now, consider the other options:

• Bulk Synthesis: This refers to the large-scale production of chemicals typically in industrial settings, rather than the creation of multiple variations of small quantities.
• Asymmetric Synthesis: This is a type of synthesis that aims to preferentially create one enantiomer over another and is not specifically about creating diverse libraries of compounds.
• Inorganic Synthesis: This involves the synthesis of inorganic compounds, which may not necessarily involve the methodology described in the question.

Given the focus of combinatorial synthesis on generating a diverse array of products using innovative techniques like light-directed synthesis, it is evident that the correct answer is combinatorial synthesis.