Method of synthesizing diverse collections of oligomers

A method of preparing a library of diverse compounds, each of said compounds being produced by the step-by-step assembly of building blocks and having certain activity or binding characteristics, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) apportioning solid supports among a plurality of reaction vessels;
• b) in each reaction vessel of said plurality of reaction vessels, covalently coupling said supports to a first reactive group of a first compound and to a reactive group of a first identifier tag identifying said compound,
• wherein a different first compound is present in each reaction vessel;
• wherein said first compound is capable of subsequently being covalently coupled to a second compound or a second identifier tag;
• wherein any additional reactive groups of said first compound that are capable of interfering with subsequent couplings of said first compound to said second compound or said second identifier tag have been suitably protected;
• wherein said first identifier tag does not interfere with the coupling of said first compound to said second compound or said second identifier tag;
• wherein the tag does not contribute to the activity or binding characteristics of the compound;
• wherein said first identifier tag can be detected and identified;
• and further wherein said reactive group of said first compound and said reactive group of said first identifier tag are independently selected from the group consisting of amino groups, carboxyl, hydroxyl, and phosphate groups;
• and
• c) pooling said supports.