An Autonomous Portable Platform for Universal Chemical Synthesis

This code and software runs a portable suitcase-sized (250 mm W x 200 mm L x 660 mm H) chemical synthesis platform that incorporates all the modules required for synthesis and purification. The system uses an open source chemical programming language coupled to a 3D digital reactor generator that enables an automatic translation of text-based literature protocols into reactors along with executable protocols that can be run autonomously. The monoliths are built from a standard set of reusable 3D printed modules, suitable for running the reaction without intervention. The monoliths and reagent inputs are connected to the platform, where the reagent flow within the 3D printed reactors is controlled with a pressure-feedback manifold. The pressure control system generates a unique reaction fingerprint to remotely assess if a synthesis protocol was successful or to diagnose failures. We demonstrate the system by synthesizing three different class of compounds including five small molecules (Isoniazid, Nardil, Dihydralazine, Lomustine, and Arbidol), four peptides (VGSA, GFSVA, FVSGKA, SKVFGA) , and four oligonucleotides (5’-TACGAT, 5’-CTACGT, 5’-GCTACGAT, and 5’-ATGCTACGGCTACGAT) in good yields and purities with a total of 24,936 base steps executed over 329 h of platform runtime.