A procedure for the sequential, selective derivatization of cyanuric chloride that allows for the incorporation of carbohydrates and peptides has been elucidated. As a result, large combinatorial arrays of individual derivatives, over 40,000 in all, have been produced in 50 mu mole quantities using automated parallel solution phase synthesis. The use of this technology in a search for protease inhibitors, glycopeptide surrogates and other bioactive compound classes will also be discussed. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.