One of the major issues associated to microwave assisted organic chemistry is reproducibility. In the present article we demonstrate that reproducibility of results can be obtained from commercially available single‐mode and multimode microwave reactors. In order to make an appropriate comparison of results obtained in both systems, alkylation reactions were used as a model. Based on the reproducibility observed in these experiments, parallel scale up of compounds in one irradiation experiment is reported for the first time.

Microwave irradiation has been used to enhance organic reactions since the mid 80's, its use within the field of medicinal chemistry is not so widely evident in the literature. The present review highlights the use of microwave chemistry as an important tool for the fast development of structure activity relationship in several programs related to various therapeutic areas.

The blending of microwave heating and parallel chemistry is a logical consequence of the significant rate enhancement and higher product yield afforded by microwave technology and the increase in productivity afforded by combinatorial chemistry. For this reason, this combination has become increasingly popular in the organic chemistry community. The current review highlights the application of this approach as a way to increase the rate of analogue synthesis in medicinal chemistry.

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