The bifunctionality of amino acids can be exploited by utilizing them
as quenchers in rapid solution phase parallel synthesis. The amino gro
up was used to covalently trap the excess electrophiles, whereas the c
arboxylic acid moiety was used to solubilize the derivatized amino aci
d in water. As a prototype we used potassium sarcosinate as a quencher
for excess electrophiles in the acylation or sulfonation of N-methyl-
benzylamine. Various electrophilic reagents such as acid chlorides, is
ocyanates and sulfonyl chlorides were quenched successfully to give pu
re products in excellent yields. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri
ghts reserved.