What is Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry? DCC methodology
utilizes cyclic structures which interchange via reversible
covalent bond formation to create a dynamic library of potential
receptors. When this thermodynamically controlled mixture is
incubated with an analyte of interest, the library responds by
shifting the equilibrium towards the receptor that best binds
the analyte, i.e. the best receptor is amplified relative to the
non-templated state. This is best visualized with the following
simple graphic: The experiment begins with a library of
“monomers”, each of which has two reactive groups on it; in the
example above, the reactive groups are thiols. Prior to adding
the analyte, the dithiols are oxidized and equilibrated to the
complex mixture of disulfides; three are shown but statistically
many hundreds are possible. An analyte is then added under
conditions where the library is in equilibrium, such that the
library constituents can respond to the analyte by shifting
towards the best host-guest pair to