Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé multicomponent reaction: emerging chemistry for drug discovery

Almost 100% internal quantum efficiency (IQE) is achieved with a green fluorescent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) exhibiting 30% external quantum efficiency (EQE). The OLED comprises an exciplex-forming co-host system doped with a fluorescent dye that has a strong delayed fluorescence as a result of reverse intersystem crossing (RISC); the exciplex-forming co-hosts stimulate energy transfer and charge balance in the system. The orientation of the transition dipole moment of the fluorescent dye is shown to have an influence on the EQE of the device. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Interest in multicomponent reactions (MCRs) has surged during the past two decades as interest in the efficient synthesis of small molecule libraries has gained prominence. MCRs fill an important niche in library synthesis by providing direct access to library compounds and by serving as starting points for Diversity-Oriented Synthesis (DOS). Recent advances in the area of MCR chemistry have included the discovery of new reactions, development of the first asymmetric catalysts, and the application of MCRs to natural products and other targets of biological interest. This review will highlight recent developments in MCRs as a rich source of molecular diversity. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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.