Abstract:
The present invention relates to a reactor array for producing and/or analyzing products, comprising a plurality of vessels in which products can be produced on a preparative or analytical scale.

Description:
This is a continuation application of PCT/EP2009/007643, filed on Oct. 26, 2009 and claiming priority to EP 08018762, filed on Oct. 28, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a reactor array for producing and/or analysing products, comprising a plurality of vessels in which products can be produced and/or analysed on a preparative or analytical scale. 
     (2) Description of Related Art 
     Analyses of substances in a medium- or high-throughput method require that reactions and/or analytical measurements are carried out in arrays which comprise a plurality of vessels in or on which the respective product is located. One analysis method in this context is x-ray powder diffractometry, which is a standard method for determining the polymorphism of substances, for example. For this measurement, an x-ray is successively directed onto each product for analysis on the sample carrier, and the portion of the radiation diffracted therefrom is evaluated. This method can be implemented in transmission geometry or reflection geometry. No reactors are currently known from the prior art, for example EP 1 972 377 A2 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,636 B1, which simultaneously meet the requirements for chemical synthesis and/or crystallisation and those for an optimum sample carrier, for example for x-ray chemical analysis, as optimally as possible. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a reactor array which meets the aforementioned requirements. 
     The object is achieved by a reactor array for producing and/or analysing products, comprising a plurality of vessels in which products can be produced and/or analysed on a preparative or analytical scale, wherein each vessel comprises a gastight lid at least at times, and at least the base of each vessel exhibits low x-ray absorptance. 
     According to the invention, the reactor array comprises a plurality of vessels for producing and/or analysing products. Products are produced on a preparative or analytic scale in these vessels, or the vessels are filled with products in order to analyse said products. Within the meaning of the invention, a preparative or analytic scale involves vessels having up to 50 ml filling volume and/or 5 g filling weight, preferably up to 2 ml filling volume and/or 500 mg filling weight, particularly preferably up to 0.5 ml filling volume and/or 50 mg filling weight of the substance to be synthesised and/or analysed. According to the invention, each of these vessels also comprises a gastight lid at least at times, which in particular retains vapours of organic solvents at temperatures preferably of 0-120° C. The loss of solvent or gas by leaking is preferably at most 20% of the filling volume in 24 hours, particularly preferably at most 10% of the filling volume in 24 hours, most preferably at most 1% of the filling volume in 24 hours, at a temperature of 30° C. below the boiling point, preferably at 15° C. below the boiling point, most preferably at the boiling point of the solvent or gas, based on the pressure surrounding the vessel. In particular, the lids are located on the vessels during the production and/or before the analysis of the products. The lid is preferably removed for the analysis. 
     The vessel and/or the lid thereof preferably consist of a chemically inert material and/or are coated with a chemically inert material. Examples of chemically inert materials include glass, ceramic material, high-grade steels and some plastics materials. The vessel and/or the lid thereof are preferably shaped and/or dimensioned in such a way as to be dimensionally stable against both positive and negative pressure. It is also preferred for the vessel to be manufactured from a thermally conductive material, in such a way that the product can be manufactured and/or analysed while introducing and/or removing heat. It is further preferred for the vessel to be easy to fill and easy to empty. For this purpose, it may for example have no undercuts and no sharp corners. The vessel preferably comprises means for thorough mixing in the vessel when producing the product and/or during the analysis. This thorough mixing is preferably provided by shaking and/or stirring. The lid and/or the vessel are preferably produced by thermoforming, casting, extruding or injection moulding a plastics material. Cutting methods and rapid prototyping (solidifying a plastics material powder or granulate) are further preferred production methods. In this way, a plurality of lids or vessels can be produced simultaneously. They may be separated, if desired, before or after assembling the lid and the vessel. 
     According to the invention, in particular the base of the vessel is configured to have as high an x-ray transmittance as possible, preferably in a wavelength range of 0.45-2.5 Å. For this purpose, the base of the vessel preferably has a thickness less than or equal to 5 mm, particularly preferably less than or equal to 100 μm, and is particularly preferably manufactured from an x-ray-amorphous material. 
     Preferably, the filling level and filling density of the products in the vessels is identical in each case in so far as possible, so as to obtain measurements which are as comparable as possible, both in the x-ray reflection analysis and in the x-ray transmission analysis. 
     Preferably, the lids of the individual vessels are interconnected, in such a way that they can be applied to or removed from all the vessels in one operation. 
     Preferably, the vessels are mounted on a plate in mountings provided therefor. A plate within the meaning of the invention need not be a continuous plate, but may comprise recesses. A formation in which the mountings of the individual vessels are interconnected by webs is also a plate within the meaning of the invention. Rather than being planar, the plate according to the invention will also generally comprise elevations and/or indentations, for example for mounting the vessels or for removing the lids of the vessels. 
     Preferably, the mounting of the vessels each comprises one or more mountings and/or a common heat exchange means with which each vessel can be heated or cooled. Preferably, the temperature in each vessel can be adjusted individually. 
     Preferably, the plate comprises a lid opener in each case in the region of the mounting of the vessels, with which opener the lid of the vessel can be removed, preferably automatically. This is preferably done before the analysis of the products, in particular immediately before. This is advantageous in particular for x-ray analysis, since the lid thus no longer presents an obstacle to the transmission of the x-rays. Preferably, all of the lids are removed from the respective vessels simultaneously. In a preferred embodiment, the lids are removed by deformation thereof, particularly preferably reversible deformation. The deformation releases a positive and/or non-positive connection between the lid and the vessel and the lid can be removed from the respective vessel. The lid is preferably removed by a lowering movement of the vessel and the lid. 
     Preferably, each lid comprises means for fastening for example process-related equipment, metering means and/or measuring means onto the lid. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the vessel is arranged rotatably in the mounting in each case. This preferred embodiment of the present invention has the advantage that the vessel can be rotated, for example during the analysis of the product located therein. This makes it possible at least to reduce measuring errors caused for example by different filling heights, different filling densities and a particular alignment of crystals or preferred orientation of the crystals. 
     Preferably, the vessels each comprise a drive means for this purpose. This drive means may cooperate in a positive and/or non-positive fit with a drive belt or a drive wheel, for example. However, the vessels may also comprise contactless drive means, for example means against which a stream of gas or liquid flows or which set the respective vessel in rotation by way of an electromagnetic effect. 
     Preferably, the drive is provided contactlessly by a temperature-controllable stream of gas or liquid which makes it possible to set different temperatures. This is advantageous for example when analysing substances having temperature-dependent properties (for example polymorphs or solvates). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the respective vessel is arranged in a mounting provided separately from the plate, in which case this mounting can then preferably be set in rotation. 
     A further subject-matter of the present invention is a lid array which comprises a plurality of individual lids which are arranged in a grid pattern. The lid array according to the invention is adapted in particular for use as a retrofit kit for previously existing reactor arrays. 
     Preferably, the lid array is manufactured from a flexible material. Within the meaning of the invention, flexible means that the material of the lid array is sufficiently pliable that it can be removed from the reactor array gradually by bending, without requiring a removal aid and without the lid being damaged, and the reactor array can subsequently be resealed. 
     Preferably, each lid comprises a seal. This seal can be made of the same material as the lid or a different type of material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       In the following, the invention is explained by way of  FIG. 1-13 . These explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit the general idea of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows the reactor array. 
         FIG. 2  shows three views of the lid. 
         FIG. 3  shows a first embodiment of the vessel with the lid. 
         FIG. 4  shows a second embodiment of the vessel with the lid. 
         FIG. 5  shows process-related means and metering means in the lid. 
         FIG. 6  shows an ejector. 
         FIG. 7  shows a further embodiment of the ejector. 
         FIG. 8  shows interconnected vessels. 
         FIG. 9  shows a particularly planar embodiment of the vessel. 
         FIG. 10  shows a first embodiment of rotatably arranged vessels. 
         FIG. 11  shows drive means for the vessel. 
         FIG. 12  shows the assembly of the arrangement according to  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  shows a further example of the assembly of the means according to  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows the reactor array  1  according to the invention, which comprises a plurality of vessels  3 , in this case in an 8×12 arrangement, which are arranged by way of example on a plate  5 . The arrangement of the vessels  3  is preferably equidistant in a uniform pattern. 
       FIG. 2  shows the associated lids schematically in three views. Each vessel comprises a lid having gastight seals  13 , which is applied to a vessel in each case. In the present case, the lids are arranged so as to be interconnected. However, this need not be the case and/or is only the case at times. For example, it is possible to provide all of the lids in an integral component, to apply them to the vessels and subsequently to separate them from one another in such a way that each lid is subsequently present individually. However, it is also possible to interconnect the lids via webs or the like. In this case, these webs may also subsequently be broken if required. However, the lids preferably remain interconnected. They remain on the vessel during the production of the respective product and/or until the vessels are arranged on the plate, and are subsequently preferably removed for the analysis and optionally subsequently applied to the vessels again. The individual vessels can be held together by interconnected lids. 
       FIG. 3  shows a first embodiment of the vessel  3 , which is provided with a lid  2 . A seal  13  is located between the lid and the vessel. The vessel is manufactured from two materials in the present case, the base exhibiting a low x-ray absorptance, but need not necessarily be so. Means for positioning process-related equipment, such as a reflux condenser system, and/or a metering system are arranged on the lid  2 . On the lower edge thereof, the lid comprises two positive connection means  2 . 1 , which cooperate with positive connection means  5 . 2  of the plate arranged below and thus fix the vessel along with the support in a completely fixed position, and this is advantageous for the transfer of heat and for the mixing process. The plate  5  located below further comprises heat exchange surfaces  5 . 1 , with which the vessel  3  can be heated or cooled, the shape of the heat exchange surfaces preferably being matched to the shape of the base of the vessel. In the present case, the lids  2  are shown without any connection to one another, but this need not be the case or is only the case at times. 
       FIG. 4  basically shows the vessel  3  along with the lid  2 , the lid not comprising any means  9  for positioning process-related equipment and/or metering means  15  in the present case. The lid including the positioning process-related equipment means  9  and metering means  15  is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In an extension of the example according to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 5  shows the positioning of process-related equipment  14 , in this case a reflux condenser, on the lid  2 . It can further be seen that the lid  2  comprises a recess through which it is possible to guide a metering unit, in this case a syringe, with which a solid, liquid or gas can be injected into the vessel. 
     In the embodiment according to  FIG. 6 , the plate  5  comprises ejectors  8 , the upper ends of which cooperate with the positive connection means  2 . 1  of the lid when the vessels  3  are lowered along with the lids  2  and thereby spread the lids outwards. In this way, a positive and/or non-positive connection  21  which fastens the lid  2  onto the vessel  3  can be released and the lid  2  can be removed. Further, in the present case the plate  5  comprises a spring means  16  with which the downward movement of the vessel  3  can be cushioned. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 7 , each ejector  8  is arranged between four lids  2 , each lid comprising a plurality of clamps  2 . 1 , in this case four, with which a releasable positive and/or non-positive connection to the vessel  3  can be produced. 
       FIG. 8  shows that the vessels  3  may also be interconnected by webs  3 . 1 . In this way, all of the vessels  3  may for example be positioned on a plate  5  simultaneously and/or heat may be exchanged between the vessels via the webs  3 . 1 . The connection  3 . 1  may be released selectively by cutting it. 
       FIG. 9  shows a particularly planar embodiment of the vessel  3 . This vessel is adapted in particular for x-ray powder diffractometry. Otherwise, reference is made to the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of the present invention in which the vessel  3  and/or the lid  2  thereof and/or the support thereof are provided with drive means  11 . In the present case, the drive means  11  are blades which are arranged with uniform spacing along the periphery of the vessel or of the lid or along the support thereof and against which an airstream  17  may flow if required, said airstream driving the vessels  3  and/or lids  2  and/or the support thereof in rotation. It can further be seen in  FIG. 10  that an airstream can also be guided against the vessel and/or the mounting thereof laterally and/or from below, for example to reduce the frictional resistance between the vessel  3  and the support thereof and/or between the support and the plate positioned below and/or to drive the vessel. 
       FIG. 11  shows an insert  19  which is provided with air blades  11  and arranged in a mounting  6  of the plate  5 . The vessel  3  is arranged in the insert  19 . In this case, too, the blades  11  are driven by air. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the drive means  11  may also be belts or toothed wheels or any other means with which force and/or a torque can be applied for driving the vessel  3  in rotation. 
       FIG. 12  basically shows the view according to  FIG. 11 , but in this case it can be seen how the mounting  6 , the insert  19  and the vessel  3  interact. 
       FIG. 13  basically shows the view of  FIGS. 11 and 12 , but in this case the inserts  19  are arranged on a plate  20  and can be lowered into the mounting  6  by means of the plate  20 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1  reactor array 
           2  lid, lid array 
           2 . 1  positive connection means 
           3  vessel, crucible 
           3 . 1  connecting web between two vessels 
           4  base of the vessel 
           5  plate 
           5 . 1  heat exchange surfaces 
           5 . 2  positive connection means 
           6  mounting of the vessels 
           7  heat exchange means 
           8  lid opener, ejector 
           9  means for positioning add-on units 
           10  sealing means, clamps 
           11  drive means 
           12  drivable support 
           13  seal 
           14  process-related equipment 
           15  metering means 
           16  spring means, cushioning 
           17  gas stream or liquid stream 
           18  x-ray 
           18 . 1  diffracted x-ray 
           19  insert 
           20  plate 
           21  positive and/or non-positive connection