Multicomponent reactions are accelerated in water.

Abstract

Two multicomponent reactions, the Ugi and Passerini reactions, are accelerated by the use of aqueous solutions. The rate enhancements compared to those by organic solvents can approach 300-fold. Reactions performed in water offer another advantage that products are often insoluble, permitting direct isolation by precipitation. The methods were applied to the preparation of three small combinatorial libraries.