The feasibility of developing multipurpose reduced chemistry that is able to describe, with sufficient accuracy, premixed and non-premixed flames, one-dimensional detonations, high-temperature autoignition, and also low-temperature autoignition is explored. A four-step mechanism with O and OH in steady state is thoroughly tested and is shown to give satisfactory results under all conditions. The possibility of reducing this to a three-step mechanism, to decrease computation times without compromising the range of applicability is then investigated. The originality of this work resides in introducing a single species X, representing either HO2 for high-temperature ignition or H2O2 for low-temperature ignition. An algorithm is defined that covers the entire range without significant degradation of accuracy. Integrations show promising results for different laminar test cases, and applicability to turbulent flows is indicated. (C) 2012 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.