Solid phase reaction method and apparatus

Apparatus suitable for performing a solid phase reaction method comprising passing an insoluble elongate material having a starting species attached thereon via a cleavable linker group through more than one reaction zone and reacting said species in a said zone, wherein a product of the reacting of the species in a first said zone subsequently undergoes a further reaction in another reaction zone, the apparatus comprising an insoluble elongate material having a starting species attached thereon via a cleavable linker group and more than one reaction zone, arranged such that the insoluble elongate material is moveable through the reaction zones such that the species is reacted in the reaction zones, each reaction zone being a conduit comprising a fluid source connected to an inlet to the reaction zone such that fluid may be supplied to the reaction zone from the source, the fluid comprising at least one reactant for reaction with said species, and the fluid supplied to the reaction zone flowing through the zone and out of an outlet from the reaction zone, wherein an inlet and outlet of the elongate material to and from the reaction zone respectively are located above the inlet and outlet of the fluid to and from the reaction zone respectively, and wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of reaction zones that are connected together and are supplied by a single source of fluid, and wherein said elongate material passes from the outlet of one reaction zone of said plurality of reaction zones into the inlet of an adjacent reaction zone of said plurality of reaction zones.