A important method of peptide synthesis, the Merrifield Method,
(Nobel Prize 1984) involves attaching the initial amino acid to an unreactive
polymer and then "growing" the peptide chain while it is still anchored
to the polymer. This methodology makes the removal of excess reagents
and by products etc. a simple case of washing them away. The
same type of reactions are those described above are used.
QUESTIONS
Why don't amines and carboxylic acids react well to give amides ?