The present invention provides complex compounds reminiscent of natural products and libraries thereof, as well as methods for their production. The inventive compounds and libraries of compounds are reminiscent of natural products in that they contain one or more stereocenters, and a high density and diversity of functionality. In general, the inventive libraries are synthesized from diversifiable scaffold structures, which are synthesized from readily available or easily synthesizable template structures. In certain embodiments, the inventive compounds and libraries are generated from diversifiable scaffolds synthesized from a shikimic acid based epoxyol template. In other embodiments, the inventive compounds and libraries are generated from diversifiable scaffolds synthesized from the pyridine-based template isonicotinamide. The present invention also provides a novel ortho-nitrobenzyl photolinker and a method for its synthesis. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods and kits for determining one or more biological activities of members of the inventive libraries. Additionally, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more library members.