From One to Millions: The Revolution of Combinatorial Chemistry

Author(s): Shreya Talreja and Prof. Dr. Shashank Tiwari

Combinatorial chemistry revolutionized discovery by enabling the rapid synthesis and screening of vast libraries containing millions of unique compounds. This review explores the core principles of library creation, including combinatorial explosion and parallel synthesis techniques like solid-phase and parallel synthesis. We discuss the advantages and limitations of this approach, highlighting its impact on accelerating discovery timelines in drug discovery, materials science, and beyond. Future advancements in automation, high-throughput screening, and computational modeling are poised to further enhance the power of combinatorial chemistry, driving innovation across diverse scientific fields.