Patent ID: 6887665

Claim:
A method for synthesizing and introducing latency into the synthesis of a polymer array, said polymer array selected from the group consisting of an oligonucleotide array and a peptide array, on a substrate comprising the steps of: a) providing a surface having one or more synthesis intermediates bound thereon, said synthesis intermediates selected from the group consisting of a linker, a nucleotide, an amino acid, a peptide and an oligonucleotide, and the synthesis intermediates having a reactive group protected from reaction by a first photosensitive protecting group, said first protecting group having a first wavelength of light which removes said protecting group from said reactive group; b) coating said surface with a substance comprising a photobleachable compound, wherein said photobleachable compound absorbs light having said first wavelength; c) irradiating at least a part of said surface with light having said first wavelength to: i) bleach said photobleachable compound; and ii) remove said protective group; d) removing said substance from said surface; e) reacting a subsequently added synthesis intermediate, said subsequently added synthesis intermediate selected from the group consisting of a linker, a nucleotide an amino acid, a peptide and an oligonucleotide, with the unprotected reactive group, the subsequently added synthesis intermediate having a reactive group protected from reaction by a second photosensitive protecting group, wherein said first and second photosensitive protecting groups are the same or different and said protecting group having a second wavelength of light which removes said protecting group from said reactive group, wherein said first and said second wavelengths of light are the same or different; f) recoating said surface with a substance comprising a photobleachable compound, wherein said photobleachable compound absorbs light having said second wavelength; if another synthesis intermediate is to be added; and g) repeating steps b) through f) or not, until the desired polymer array is obtained.