Multi-component reaction

A multi- or multi-component reaction (English Multi Component Reaction MCR) is a chemical synthetic operation, when three or more reactants at the same time meet each other in the reaction vessel to form a product.

Expiration

The rules of chemical kinetics according to this should be a very unlikely and thus slow process. For still unexplained reasons, in all cases, these reactions are nevertheless quickly and efficiently. The reaction mechanisms probably consist of various interlocking reversible two-component reactions with an irreversible, ie not reversible, the final step.

The demarcation of classical reactions in which a number of catalysts and solvent molecules are reactants, is not always possible. However, in MCRs all reactants are integrated into the product. Since the synthesis and purification of intermediates can be saved, MCRs are powerful tools of modern organic synthesis. Their strength and main field of application is in the field of medicinal chemistry to obtain so-called libraries for pharmaceutical purposes.

Were the first MCRs still random results today of a rational or combinatorial procedure is given preference. By now (September 2005) are published almost 400 MCRs. Often used for nomenclature purposes abbreviations. Here, the first letter of the name of the discoverer is prefixed, then comes a number indicating the number of reactants, followed by " CR".

The best known MCRs are:

Combinatorial chemistry Strecker amino-acid synthesis
562062
de