A multi-component reaction (or MCR), sometimes referred to as a "Multi-component Assembly Process" (or MCAP), is a chemical reaction where three or more compounds react to form a single product.
[1] By definition, multicomponent reactions are those reactions whereby more than two reactants combine in a sequential manner to give highly selective products that retain majority of the atoms of the starting material.
It is believed to exhibit resonance between its tetravalent and divalent carbon forms.
The occurrence of isocyanides in natural products has also made it a useful functional group.
MCR's can often be extended into combinatorial, solid phase or flow syntheses for developing new lead structures of active agents.