Patent ID: 6721665
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: B01J,C40B,G01N

Abstract:
Apparatus for producing a mass-coded set of compounds of the general formula X(Y)n, wherein X is a scaffold, n is from 2 to about 6, and each Y is, independently, a peripheral moiety, the apparatus comprising:storage for storing a peripheral moiety precursor set; and a digital processor assembly for selecting a peripheral moiety precursor subset from the peripheral moiety precursor set, wherein the digital processor assembly employs a routine executed by a digital processor for: (a) choosing every set of two different peripheral moiety precursors from the peripheral moiety precursor set, said choosing performed in a manner such that for each set of two, if the two peripheral moiety precursors have equal molecular masses then one of the two is removed forming a remaining set; and (b) from the remaining set, choosing a desired subset so as to provide the selected subset by (i) choosing a possible selected subset from the working selection set, (ii) from the chosen possible selected subset, generating all possible combinations of n peripheral moiety precursors, and (iii) determining whether at least about 90% of said combinations of n peripheral moieties derived from said chosen possible selected subset have molecular mass sums which are distinct from the molecular mass sums of all other combinations of n peripheral moieties derived from said chosen possible selected subset, and, if so, selecting the chosen possible subset as the selected subset, wherein the selected subset comprises a sufficient number of peripheral moiety precursors that there exist at least about 250 distinct combinations of n peripheral moieties derived from said selected subset.