Ionic liquid supported synthesis

A method of synthesizing an oligomer comprising:

• a) contacting a monomer unit of an amino acid, a saccharide, or a nucleotide or nucleoside with an ionic liquid-support compound, to form an ionic liquid-supported monomer, wherein the ionic liquid-supported monomer comprises the ionic liquid-support compound covalently bonded to the monomer unit, wherein the ionic liquid-support compound is an organic salt comprising a heterocyclic or substituted heterocyclic quaternary nitrogen-containing organic cation, a heterocyclic or substituted heterocyclic quaternary phosphonium containing organic cation, or a heterocyclic or substituted heterocyclic trivalent sulfonium containing organic cation, and an anion balancing the charge on said organic cation;
• b) contacting the ionic liquid-supported monomer with at least one further monomer unit of an amino acid, a saccharide, or a nucleotide at reaction conditions to provide an ionic liquid-supported oligomer that comprises the ionic liquid-support compound covalently bonded to an oligopeptide, oligosaccharide, or an oligonucleotide, wherein said ionic liquid-supported monomer and said at least one further monomer unit are solubilized in an organic solvent during said contacting;
• c) optionally, contacting the ionic liquid-supported oligomer with at least one further monomer unit of an amino acid, a saccharide, or a nucleotide at reaction conditions;
• and
• d) cleaving the ionic liquid-support compound from the ionic liquid-supported oligomer.