Traceless linker: Oxidative activation and displacement of a sulfur-based linker

The construction of small heterocycles using solid-phase chemistry is usually done through the use of a polar group to attach the compounds to the resin. These polar functionalities invariably become part of the structure and eventually limit the structure-activity relationships derived from these compounds. We have identified a method for overcoming some of these limitations. A sulfur-based linker has been identified that can serve not only as a point of attachment for a small heterocycle, but also as a means to introduce further diversity into the molecule. The linker remains inert until ''activated'' by oxidation. A limiting amount of a nucleophile can then be used to cleave the molecule from the resin and introduce additional diversity into the molecule. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd