title: SynCar: an approach to automated synthesis.
abstract: The automation of all aspects of manual solution-phase synthesis into one integrated, efficient, and reliable system could be regarded as something of an unmet challenge in organic chemistry. The requirements for modern solution-phase libraries in mainstream drug discovery is typically 50-250 high-purity compounds on a 10-100-mg scale, whether for target class libraries or lead optimization, and short cycle time in combination with high capacity is critical. To achieve these goals, in a codevelopment between Aventis and Accelab GmbH, Kusterdingen, Germany, we designed a completely novel system of independent workstations connected by a shuttle transfer system produced by Montech, Derendingen, Switzerland. Seven modular workstations process four reactions on each shuttle in parallel, with the ability to perform synthesis (temperature control and liquid reagent handling), filtration, liquid-liquid extraction, evaporation, weighing, solid-phase extraction, and HPLC/MS analysis. The modular design enables the continuous loading of shuttles at any time, and each shuttle can have its own workflow. The design also allows easy expansion for future needs. The result is a combination of high flexibility and high throughput.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Scaffold and Automated Synthesis Unit, Aventis Pharma Deutschland GmbH, a company of the sanofi-aventis group, 65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: von Roedern
authors.forename: Hans Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Stilz
mesh_terms: D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D012371:Robotics
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals