High throughput ‘catch-and-release’ synthesis within spatially discrete gel arrays

A tetrafluorophenol acrylamide monomer unit was synthesised, co-polymerised and grafted onto a glass slide to form individual gel spots. As a proof of principle study, a small library of amides was rapidly synthesised within these gel spots using ‘catch-and-release’ chemistry, including the biologically interesting quorum sensing acyl-homoserine lactones. The tetrafluorophenol acrylamide gel provides an efficient platform to synthesise and screen small molecules for biological activity.