Junior Process chemistry

Importance of the Topic

High-throughput reaction screening and optimization play a pivotal role in accelerating process chemistry development. By enabling rapid exploration of reaction conditions and variables, chemists can identify optimal parameters for yield, selectivity, and impurity profiles, thereby shortening development timelines and reducing resource consumption.

Goals and Overview of the Application Note

This application note introduces the Junior automated workflow platform from Unchained Labs, designed to transform routine reaction screening and process optimization into scalable, data-rich campaigns. It outlines key system components, available options, and typical use cases for both academic and industrial process chemistry laboratories.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The Junior platform integrates multiple modules on a single bench-top deck to support up to 96 parallel pressurized reactions. Major elements include:

• Optimization Sampling Reactor (OSR): Eight independent reactors (5–25 mL working volume) with individual control of temperature (–20 °C to 200 °C), pressure (30–400 psi), stirring (up to 750 rpm), and automated in-situ sampling.
• Deck Screening Pressure Reactor (DSPR): Facilitates up to 96 pressurized reactions (e.g., hydrogenation) at 200 psi and 180 °C with minimal pressure drop.
• Heated Liquid Dispensers: Single- or four-tip modules with up to 1 mL per tip at temperatures to 120 °C for precise reagent delivery.
• Powder Dispensing: Storage vial (4 mL) for sub-milligram solids and classic hopper (10–100 mL) for larger batch volumes, employing vibration or dynamic dispense algorithms.
• pH Measurement: Single- or four-channel probe for 96-well plates, covering a pH range of 1–13 with 0.05-unit resolution.
• Vortexing Station: Three positions capable of orbital shaking at 60–3570 rpm for complete mixing of slurries and suspensions.
• Automated Balance with Camera Integration: On-deck weighing (0.01–0.1 mg resolution) to ensure precise solid addition and reagent tracking.
• Inert Atmosphere Control: Maintains oxygen- and moisture-sensitive chemistries under nitrogen or argon.

Off-deck instruments such as HPLC and GC can be virtually integrated for real-time analytics and data capture.

Main Results and Discussion

Although the guide focuses on system capabilities rather than specific experimental data, performance highlights include:

• Execution of up to 96 parallel, pressurized reactions with independent control of key parameters.
• Real-time kinetic sampling enabling rapid feedback on reaction progress and impurity formation.
• Automated dosing accuracy for liquids (±2 % by volume) and solids (0.04–0.25 mg repeatability) across multiple dispense heads.
• Temperature uniformity within ±2 °C across heated modules and rapid heating/cooling rates (5 °C/min heating, 2 °C/min cooling).

Benefits and Practical Applications

The Junior platform offers several practical advantages:

• High throughput screening of reaction variables (equivalents, temperature, pressure, catalysts) to identify optimal conditions quickly.
• Reduction in manual labor and human error through full automation of reagent addition and sampling under pressure.
• Enhanced data quality via real-time analytics and integrated weighing, leading to improved reproducibility.
• Ability to map process robustness and impurity trends early in development to de-risk scale-up.

Future Trends and Possibilities

Emerging directions for high-throughput reaction platforms include:

• Closed-loop optimization integrating machine learning algorithms to navigate complex reaction spaces autonomously.
• Expanded virtual and physical integration with advanced analytics (e.g., online mass spectrometry) and purification modules.
• Miniaturization and multiplexing to further increase throughput while reducing reagent consumption.
• Adaptation to continuous flow and photochemical reactions for broader synthetic applicability.

Conclusion

The Junior automated workflow guide demonstrates a comprehensive solution for reaction screening and process optimization. By combining multi-reactor control, precise dosing, real-time sampling, and flexible integration, this platform enables chemists to accelerate development timelines and enhance data quality, paving the way for more efficient and robust chemical processes.