Development of a high intensity parallel photoreactor for high throughput screening

Abstract

We report the development of a high intensity photoreactor that enables high throughput screening of up to 1536 reactions on nanomole scales in parallel. The increased photon flux provided by this new reactor compared to previous parallel reactor designs enables high performance for reactions that are sensitive to light intensity. In addition, the uniformity of illumination and efficient heat removal of this reactor allow for the systematic investigation of the complex interplay between parameters such as light intensity, catalyst loading and reaction stoichiometry on nanomole scale. The ability to run hundreds or thousands of unique photochemistry experiments under highly controlled conditions also provides a standardized platform for screening and data gathering for informatics. Finally, the reactor allows for the successful reproduction of screening hits at medicinal chemistry relevant scales.