by activator solution and optionally a separate base alternatively the amino acid may be activated separately for instance by the addition of base to a vial containing amino acid and activator by the addition of activator and base solution to a vial containing amino acid or by the addition of coupling additive and activator solution to a vial containing amino acid before addition to the reaction vessel infrared energy is applied during the coupling step which may occur with in situ activation or subsequent to activation after the coupling step the solution is drained and the resin washed with an appropriate solvent the coupling step may be repeated the overall cycle of deprotection washing coupling and washing may be repeated multiple times when peptide synthesis is complete an additional deprotection step may be necessary to remove the final protecting group prior to peptide cleavage the resin may optionally be washed by an additional solvent and optionally dried prior to cleavage to cleave the remaining side chain protecting groups and cleave the peptide from the resin a cleavage solution is added to the reaction vessel s optionally infrared energy may be applied during the cleavage step which may decrease the time necessary for this step upon completion each mixture of cleaved peptide in cleavage solution is transferred to a collection vial in another preferred embodiment a method comprises first treating a resin with an attached chemical.