Methods for pre-determined mass sorting of positional-encoded solid phase synthesis supports

Abstract

A system for producing a library of oligomer comprising at least two monomers in a positionally determined array comprise a plurality of synthesis supports, a first plurality of support carriers wherein each carrier has a uniform array of distinct support holding positions for the synthesis supports; means for contacting each array of synthesis supports with a different monomer to provide a first chemical transformation of the synthesis supports; a second plurality of support carriers wherein each carrier has a uniform array of distinct support holding positions for receiving the chemically transformed synthesis supports contained in the first plurality of support carriers; transfer apparatus for transferring a selected row or column of synthesis supports from each of the first plurality of carriers to each of the second plurality of carriers to enable the supports in the second to undergo at least a second chemical transformation; and whereby each support position in each carrier identifies the chemical compound thereon.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for producing a library of oligomers of defined composition, said method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of synthesis supports equal to the number of oligomers to be synthesized;    providing a first plurality of support carriers, wherein each support carrier has an array of distinct holding positions for said synthesis supports, the array defined by at least three groups of positions;    mounting said synthesis supports in said first plurality of support carriers in said array of distinct holding positions;    contacting each array of synthesis supports with a different monomer to provide a first chemical transformation of said synthesis supports in a series of chemical transformations;    providing a second plurality of support carriers wherein each carrier has an array of distinct holding positions for receiving said chemically transformed synthesis supports contained in said first plurality of support carriers, the array defined by at least three groups of position;    redistributing each group of synthesis supports from each of said first plurality of arrays to select positions in a separate one of each of said second plurality of arrays; and    repeating the steps of contacting and redistributing until oligomers containing the desired number of monomers are obtained, wherein each support position identifies the composition of the oligomer thereon.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said arrays comprise columns and rows and wherein each group comprises a column or arrow.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein each array comprises at least three columns and three rows.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein said steps of redistributing comprises transferring each column of synthesis supports from each array of each of said first plurality of support carriers to a column in an array in a separate one of said second plurality of support carriers.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein said steps of redistributing comprises transferring each row of synthesis supports from each array of each of said first plurality of support carriers to a row in an array in a separate one of said second plurality of support carriers.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein: 
 said steps of redistributing comprises at least one step of transferring each column of synthesis supports from each array of each of said first plurality of support carriers to a column in an array in a separate one of said second plurality of support carriers; and,  
 at least one step of transferring each row of synthesis supports from each array of each of said first plurality of support carriers to a row in an array in a separate one of said second plurality of support carriers.  
 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said arrays comprises at least three columns and rows; and  
 said steps of redistributing comprises at least one step of transferring each column of synthesis supports from each array of each of said first plurality of support carriers to a column in an array in a separate one of said second plurality of support carriers; and, at least one step of transferring each row of synthesis supports from each array of each of said first plurality of support carriers to a row in an array in a separate one of said second plurality of support carriers.  
 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein: 
 all but one of said steps of redistributing comprises transferring synthesis supports from selected ones of columns and rows from each array of said first plurality of support carriers to columns and rows in each array in said second plurality of support carriers; and  
 said one of said steps comprises transferring synthesis supports from the other of columns and rows from each array of said first plurality of support carriers to columns and rows in each array in said second plurality of support carriers.  
 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the step of contacting each array of synthesis supports with a different monomer comprises placing each support carrier in a separate reactor.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of contacting each array of synthesis supports with a different monomer comprises placing each support carrier in a separate reactor.