A Perspective on Innovating the Chemistry Lab Bench

• Main Authors: Alexander G. Godfrey, Samuel G. Michael, Gurusingham Sitta Sittampalam, Gergely Zahoránszky-Köhalmi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-02-01
• Series: Frontiers in Robotics and AI
• Subjects: automated chemical synthesis; retrosynthetic analysis; reaction planning; reagent delivery; bench chemistry
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frobt.2020.00024/full

Innovating on the design and function of the chemical bench remains a quintessential challenge of the ages. It requires a deep understanding of the important role chemistry plays in scientific discovery as well a first principles approach to addressing the gaps in how work gets done at the bench. This perspective examines how one might explore designing and creating a sustainable new standard for advancing automated chemistry bench itself. We propose how this might be done by leveraging recent advances in laboratory automation whereby integrating the latest synthetic, analytical and information technologies, and AI/ML algorithms within a standardized framework, maximizes the value of the data generated and the broader utility of such systems. Although the context of this perspective focuses on the design of advancing molecule of potential therapeutic value, it would not be a stretch to contemplate how such systems could be applied to other applied disciplines like advanced materials, foodstuffs, or agricultural product development.