The aim of this project is to use fluorescence lifetime probes to investigate the effect of microwave heating in solid phase combinatorial synthesis. Microwave radiation is known to significantly enhance the rate and yield of many reactions, compared with conventional heating, but the mechanism of this is not understood. The resin beads used in combi-chem will be labelled with a fluorescent probe and the fluorescence response of the probe will be used to determine the effects of microwave heating in comparison with conventional heating.