Microwave Synthesizer

Discover

Microwave Synthesizer

Discover

Overview
The Discover® provides an economical, robust platform for heating sealed pressure vessels with the power of microwave energy. Access temperatures and pressures up to 300 °C and 300 psi for the highest purity synthetic results. Start with a basic system and add on more capabilities as you need.
Features
  • 10-mL sealed pressure vessels ideal for research chemistry and optional 80-mL vessels for scale up.
  • Volume-independent, infrared temperature monitoring accurately measures temperature for reaction volumes from 0.2 to 60 mL with only two vessel sizes
  • Safety based pressure management technology automatically relieves excess pressure to prevent vial failures.
  • Variable speed magnetic stirring and rapid compressed air cooling
  • Upgrade options: gaseous reagent addition, sub-ambient temperature control, camera reaction monitoring, 80 mL reaction vessel, continuous flow chemistry, Intellivent pressure device and open vessel option.
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Discover Brochure

Microwave Advantage

The Absolute Best Approach for Chemical Synthesis

A refined form of energy, microwaves provide unique heating benefits to synthetic chemistry.123 Reactions are heated volumetrically, directly, and instantaneously, faster and more efficiently than any other form of heating. These microwave characteristics give organic chemists better product yield and more control over reaction conditions for precise results in materials and inorganic chemistry. Microwave energy is the industry standard for medicinal chemistry, nanomaterials synthesis, and academic teaching labs, owing to these clear advantages.

Illustration of heating the outside vessel surface using conductive heating

Conductive Heating

Conventional Method

With hot plates, oil baths, and heating mantles, energy is transferred indirectly to the reactants by applying heat to the outside surface of the vessel and solvent. This form of heating is slower and inefficient, leading to reduced synthetic results.



Illustration of heat being directly absorbed by the reactants with a Discover

Microwave Heating

The Discover Method

The vessel wall is transparent to microwaves allowing energy to be directly absorbed by the reactants. This direct molecular activation limits side reactions and provides a fast and efficient form of heating. Reactions that previously took hours, or even days, to complete can be performed in minutes.

1Dudley, G. B.; Richert, R.; Stiegman, A. E. Chem. Sci. 2015, 6, 2144-2152.
2Chen, P.-K.; Rosana, M. R.; Dudley, G. B.; Stiegman, A. E. J. Org. Chem. 2014, 79, 7425-7436.
3Hunt, J.; Ferrari, A.; Lita, A.; Crosswhite, M.; Ashley, B.; Stiegman, A. E. J. Phys. Chem. C 2013, 51, 26871-26880

Line chart demonstrating the speed of the Discover
Speed

Run Sealed Tube Reactions Much Faster than Conventionally Heated Systems.


Microwaves Safely Heat Much Faster

  • Microwaves directly heat the sample
  • Conventional heating must be used more conservatively


    • " Because when applying convective heating, the heating process will continue even when power is already reduced, it appeared advantageous to regulate the power more conservatively to prevent any significant thermal overshoots, especially when exothermic reactions are processed. This invariably leads to the comparatively slow heating ramps.1 "

    Reduced Cooling Time

  • The Discover’s compressed air system cools much faster than integrated fans2
  • Typically < 1 minute for compressed air vs. up to 5 minute for integrated fans

    • 1 Obermayer et al, J. Org. Chem. 2016, 81, 11788-11801
    2 Typically used in conventional heating systems with sealed tubes

    Floor Mounted Temperature Control System rials synthesis, and academic teaching labs, owing to these clear advantages.

    Save Money — Use Less Reagents.

    A refined form of energy, microwaves provide unique heating benefits to synthetic chemistry.123 Run reactions as low as 0.2 mL (10x lower than conventional heating systems). This is based on both the Discover’s unique bottom mounted temperature control system and the ability of microwave energy to be turned OFF instantly thereby avoiding excessive temperature overshoot of small sample volumes.

    Illustration of the IR Temperature Sensor for Microwave Synthesis

    Limited

    IR sensor from side

    (Higher Volume Required)



    Illustration of the IR sensor from below

    Ideal

    IR sensor from below

    (Lower Volume Required)

    Accuracy and Precision

    No Temperature Overshoot.

    Microwaves Turn OFF Instantaneously
    Microwave energy can be turned OFF instantaneously. In contrast, conventional heating can’t as the vessel continues to be heated for a period of time after the heat source is turned OFF. This makes controlling temperature overshoot much more difficult with conventional heating.

    Unique Active Cooling of Discover
    The Discover also features an integrated cooling system that provides automated cooling during a run. This system further ensures desired run conditions and quickly eliminates any overshooting of the target temperature.

    Heat map illustration of conventional heating

    Conventional Heating


    Heat map illustration of microwave heating with the Discover

    Microwave Heating
    Illustration of the pressure control on the Discover
    Safety

    Fewer Broken Vessels.

    The pressure control on the Discover provides venting of excess pressure during the run as it happens. This reduces the chance of vessels breaking inside the system.

    Other systems vent excess pressure at the end of a run which is often too late. Conventionally heated systems also are more at risk of vessel ruptures from exothermic reactions since the heating can’t be instantaneously turned OFF.

    Features

    Reliable and easy to operate.

    The Discover provides an economical, robust platform for heating sealed pressure vessels with the power of microwave energy. Access temperatures and pressures up to 300 °C and 300 psi for the highest purity synthetic results. Start with a basic system and add on more capabilities as you need.

    View of the inside of the Discover
    1

    Benchmate Pressure Management

    Safety based technology seals reaction vessels up to 300 psi and automatically relieves excess pressure to prevent vial failures. Optional upgrades include IntelliVent pressure measurement/monitoring capabilities and atmospheric pressure applications in conventional round bottom flasks.

    2

    Volume-Independent Temperature Sensor

    The floor mounted, infrared temperature sensor enables the Discover to accurately measure temperature for reaction volumes from 0.2 to 60 mL.

    3

    High Temperature/ Pressure Sealed Vessels

    10-mL vessels for research and optional 80-mL vessels for scale up.

    4

    Self-Tuning, Efficient Microwave Cavity

    Take the guesswork out of microwave chemistry. The Discover cavity automatically adjusts power output based on the polar and ionic properties of your reaction solution.

    5

    Compressed Air Reaction Quenching

    Rapid cooling upon reaction completion allows safe handling in less than a minute. Superior performance to fan-based systems.

    6

    Electromagnetic Stirring

    Homogenize your reaction mixture for the best synthetic results and consistency. Fully adjustable.

    Software

    Synergy Data Analysis Software

    Programming microwave methods and recording data with Synergy software is fast, simple, and flexible. Users have access to individual, password protected logins to review reaction parameters and run details including temperature, pressure, and power. Analyze graphs in Synergy or quickly export this data to a spreadsheet for incorporation into presentations, papers, and laboratory notebooks.
    Software screenshot of programming a specialized reaction

    Specialized Reaction Programming

    Synergy software provides the most convenient way to access the unique power control modes of the Discover. Routine synthetic chemistry can be performed with Standard methods while 4 additional control algorithms allow scientists to further explore the limits of microwave heating.

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    Software screenshot of reaction data

    Accessible Reaction Data

    Record temperature, pressure, and power data for your reactions and store everything in Synergy for fast and organized retrieval. Information can be directly exported into a spreadsheet or data visualization program for reports and publication using the convenient laptop interface.

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    Software screenshot of protected electronic notebook

    Protected Electronic Notebook

    All reaction data is saved to Synergy’s database and cannot be deleted. Add notebook numbers, chemical structures and reaction schemes, and other sample identifiers and notes without concern for data integrity.

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    Upgrades & Accessories

    IntelliVent Pressure Option for Discover

    IntelliVent Pressure Option


    Upgrade your Discover to the most comprehensive feedback about your reaction system with the IntelliVent pressure measurement option. Safely control and record reaction pressure from 0 – 300 psi, with the same automated vent-and-reseal technology of the Benchmate pressure device.
    Open Vessel Option for Discover

    Open Vessel Option


    Add the power of microwave chemistry to reactions in conventional laboratory glassware. The Discover is the only microwave synthesizer to allow the use of a conventional round bottom flask, up to 125 mL, in it’s reaction cavity. Using an open vessel format, it is easy to cannulate or add reagents and remove aliquots of reaction solution for TLC or instrumental analysis of reaction progress.