Patent ID: 7956011
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: B01J,B82Y

Abstract:
1. A method of synthesizing an oligomer array on a solid substrate, the array comprising linker molecules or oligomer molecules attached to the substrate at a plurality of array elements, the linker molecules or oligomers molecules having protecting groups to make them unreactive to a chain extension reaction with a monomer, wherein the method comprises: (a) providing in contact with the array with a film that restricts diffusion of reactants and products on the substrate during synthesis of the array, wherein the film includes a precursor of a reagent that is capable of removing the protecting groups of the linker or oligomer molecules; (b) generating the reagent that is capable of removing the protecting groups of the linker or oligomer molecules from the precursor at one or more of the array elements chosen for the chain extension reaction with a monomer; (c) removing the protecting groups in a reversible reaction at the one or more of the array elements to produce reactive array elements at which the linker molecules or oligomer molecules are capable of undergoing a chain extension reaction with a monomer, and one or more other products of the deprotection reaction that are not further required; and (d) coupling a monomer to the linker or oligomer molecules at one or more of the reactive array elements; said method further comprising removing one or more of the non-required products of the deprotection reaction from the reactive array elements at which they are produced during the reaction, in order to displace said deprotection reaction towards completion.