Automated Modular Preparative HPLC-MS Purification Laboratory with Enhanced Efficiency

摘要

Automated parallel synthesis as tool to increase productivity in chemical synthesis is well-established. However, even more time-consuming than the synthesis process is the following purification of the resulting crude products. To enhance efficiency of the lead optimization process at Bayer CropScience, a high-throughput HPLC/MS-laboratory for the purification of up to 48 crude products per day in the range of 200—400 mg each in one injection per sample has been set up. The use of Covaris technology for HPLC sample preparation, automated aliquotation during fractionation, and a novel evaporation process by combination with freeze-drying are new key technologies applied successfully for the first time in this purification unit facilitating to achieve the targeted efficiency. The whole process is supported by a specially designed IT-landscape covering each step of the workflow. Both the technical instruments used within the laboratory and the workflow and IT platform are described in this article.