A Versatile and Cost-Effective Approach to Automated Laboratory Organic Synthesis

摘要

The application of a commercial laboratory automated synthesis system, the Anachem SK233 Workstation, is described for use in organic synthesis. A novel reactor design feature has been developed to enable the sampling of reactions under ambient to reflux temperatures while maintaining an effective inert atmosphere. Up to 10 reactions can be run simultaneously on the reactor block supplied. Examples are reported of multiple parallel reactions covering a range of chemistries encountered in synthesis encompassing heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions, air-sensitive and aggressive reagents, ambient to full reflux temperature, and full inert atmospheres with concomitant automated HPLC product analysis. The equipment and modifications described are of moderate cost, are robust in use, are of acceptable size for modern chemistry laboratories, and are readily acceptable to practising chemists.