The present invention is a method of preparing affinity ligands, which method comprises to provide a cyclic scaffold comprising a thiol group, a carbonyl group and an amine group; to derivatize the amine group of said scaffold with an electrophile that carries either a functionality capable of affinity interaction or a functionality capable of a second interaction with a target molecule; and to open up the derivatized scaffold and add an amine that carries either a functionality capable of a second interaction or a functionality capable of affinity interaction with a target molecule. The method provides provide affinity ligands, which are capable of affinity interaction as well as a second kind of interaction.