Generally, and in one form, the present invention is a method of making a benzene-modified compound on solid support that includes the steps of forming an (oxy)(aryl)carbene complex, esterifying the (oxy)(aryl)carbene complex to form an (ester)(aryl)carbene complex, and contacting the (ester)(aryl)carbene complex with a solid support such that the (ester)(aryl)carbene complex is bound to the solid support. In another form, the present invention includes compositions for the resulting (ester)(aryl)carbene complexes on solid support, such as any resulting solid support compounds formed after the initial coupling as well as those from any subsequent reaction, including those with linkers and on a solid support. The method and compositions of the present invention yield stable, durable, highly efficient and cost-effective as well as potentially biologically active lead compounds on solid support.