Patent ID: 6242262
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B01J,C07B,C07K,C40B,G01N

Abstract:
A method for isolating an active catalyst from a library of compounds that are potential catalysts, said method comprising:providing a library which comprises a plurality of discrete solid supports, each solid support having a different organic compound bound thereto;providing a reaction solution in a reaction vessel, said reaction solution containing the reactant or reactants necessary for a chemical reaction to occur in the presence of a catalyst for said reaction, wherein said reaction solution is a liquid;combining said library with said reaction solution in said reaction vessel, wherein said discrete solid supports are positioned at an interface in said reaction vessel; and thendetecting one of said discrete solid supports characterized by a temperature change of said one discrete solid support in said solution greater than the temperature change of a plurality of other of said discrete solid supports in said solution, said detected solid support carrying an active catalyst for said chemical reaction;wherein said detecting step is carried out with an infrared detector, with said infrared detector directed at said interface,and with said infrared detector positioned outside of said reaction solution and directed at the interface;and wherein said discrete solid supports and said reaction solution are selected so that said discrete solid supports float in said reaction solution, and said infrared detector is positioned above and directed at the surface of said reaction solution.