Exploiting neighboring-group interactions for the self-selection of a catalytic unit

This article reports a new approach for the screening of dynamic combinatorial libraries based on the tethering of a model of the transition state of the reaction. This approach has numerous advantages for catalyst development: 1. It allows one to screen independently the catalytic and the recognition site of a catalyst (all approaches performed so far screen a catalysts on the basis of both properties with serious limitations in catalyst combinatorial space accessible); 2. It allows one to pinpoint even the most subtle catalytic effects that are often hidden by a poor binding. It is worth pointing out that without tethering strategy it would not have been able to select any catalyst!