Reaction block for parallel synthetic chemistry and vessel therefor

Abstract

A reaction vessel for use in an apparatus for parallel synthetic chemistry with a reaction chamber space for containing contents of a chemical reaction and a discharge channel for selectively removing liquid contents of the reaction chamber. The invention includes an apparatus for receiving a plurality of the reaction vessels, a method for using the apparatus and a method for forming the vessels.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reaction vessel for performing chemical reactions, particularly for use in parallel chemical synthesis or analysis, comprising 
 a body made of a polymeric material, shapable by injection molding, said body defining a reaction chamber and a discharge channel, said reaction chamber and said discharge channel each having an open end and a bottom portion, and    a fluidic connection channel connecting the discharge channel with the space within the reaction chamber, where a reaction medium is received and    the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each extending from its open end towards its bottom portion with constant or decreasing cross section.    
     
     
         2 . A reaction vessel for performing chemical reactions, for use in parallel chemical synthesis or analysis, comprising 
 a body made of a thermoplastic polymeric material, said body defining a reaction chamber defining a longitudinal axis, having a space therein for receiving a reaction medium and a discharge channel, said reaction chamber space and said discharge channel each having an open end and a bottom portion, and    a fluidic connection channel connecting the discharge channel with the the reaction chamber space, and    the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each extending from its open end towards its bottom portion with constant or decreasing cross section.    
     
     
         3 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 2 , wherein the reaction chamber space has a mean cross-sectional area between about 10 to about 1000 square millimeters.  
     
     
         4 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 3 , wherein the reaction chamber has a mean cross-sectional area in a range between about 75 to about 120 square millimeters.  
     
     
         5 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein the discharge channel has a cross-sectional area between about 0.8 to about 25 square millimeters.  
     
     
         6 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 3 , wherein the vessel has a length beween about 20 to about 200 millimeters.  
     
     
         7 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 2 , wherein the discharge channel is connected to the reaction chamber by a fluidic connection channel having an orifice near to the bottom of the reaction chamber space so that the reaction medium contained in the reaction chamber space is withdrawable through the connection channel into the discharge channel.  
     
     
         8 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 7 , wherein the fluidic connection channel extends between said orifice located near to or at the bottom of the reaction chamber and an orifice located at the bottom of the discharge channel.  
     
     
         9 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 7 , wherein the fluidic connection channel begins at the bottom portion of the reaction chamber and leads to the discharge channel with constant or preferably decreasing diameter.  
     
     
         10 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 9 , comprising filtering means in the fluidic connection channel between the reaction chamber and the discharge channel, so that reaction medium being withdrawn from the reaction chamber into the discharge channel has to pass through the filtering means.  
     
     
         11 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 10 , wherein said filtering means is a filtration material.  
     
     
         12 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 10 , wherein the filtering means constitutes a delimitation of the reaction chamber.  
     
     
         13 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 2 , wherein the discharge channel extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reaction chamber.  
     
     
         14 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 2 , wherein said reaction chamber space is defined by a lateral wall having an outside surface and the discharge channel extends either substantially within said lateral wall or along the outside surface of the wall.  
     
     
         15 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 2 , wherein said body is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and a fluorinated polymer.  
     
     
         16 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 7 , wherein the opening of the reaction chamber and the opening of the discharge channel are interconnected by a channel, hole or groove, for substantially equalizing a pressure differential between the reaction chamber and the discharge channel.  
     
     
         17 . A reaction vessel according to  claim 2 , wherein the reaction chamber has an upper open end defining an upper rim and the discharge channel has an upper open end located at the upper rim of the reaction vessel, said upper open end of said reaction chamber and said upper open end of said discharge channel being located at said upper rim.  
     
     
         18 . A method for manufacturing a reaction vessel having a body defining a reaction chamber space therewithin comprising 
 forming said body of said vessel by injection molding of a polymeric material in an injection mold,    shaping an interior of a discharge channel by a first core and an interior of the reaction chamber by a second core,    moving said first and second core into the mold before an injection of a molten polymeric material into the mold and retracting said first core and said second core after allowing a sufficient time for the molten polymeric material to solidify during opening of the mold    said second core for shaping the reaction chamber bearing a movable extension at an end thereof for forming the bottom of the reaction chamber, and said extension touching the first core when said first and second core disposed in the mold thereby forming said connection channel between said reaction chamber and said discharge channel.    
     
     
         19 . A method of conducting a reaction in the reaction vessel according to  claim 2 , comprising operating said vessel at a pressure above an ambient pressure.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising generating said pressure greater than ambient by substantially sealingly closing said reaction vessel and maintaining said vessel at a temperature above an ambient temperature.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for conducting at least two chemical reactions in reaction vessels, comprising said apparatus having at least two of said reaction vessels according to  claim 2  disposed in a parallel arrangement.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said apparatus comprises a number of reaction vessels which is an integer multiple of 24.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein each of the reaction vessels is disposed so that contents of a chemical reaction contained in each of the reaction vessels may be removed by applying suction means to the discharge channel.  
     
     
         24 . A reactor block for performing a multiplicity of chemical reactions simultaneously, particularly for use in parallel synthetic chemistry, comprising 
 at least two rows of at least two locations for receiving a reaction vessel according to  claim 2 ,    the reaction vessels having each at least an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice positionable in the locations,    wherein the reactor block comprises first closure means having surface parts, pins and openings therethrough being each movable in a sliding manner between at least one open position and a closed position over the inlets and outlets of a number, preferably a row, of reaction vessels situated in the locations into at least one opening position where the openings in the first closure means allow access to the inlet orifices and/or outlet orifices of each vessel, and into a closed position where the inlet orifices and outlet orifices are closed by the surface parts of the first closure means resting on the inlet orifices and outlet orifices.    
     
     
         25 . A reactor block according to  claim 24 , wherein the first closure means are each guided in guide means and the guide means are operably engaged with the first closure means so that the first closure means are sealingly pressed against the inlet orifices and outlet orifices of the reaction vessels, when theclosure means are moved to the closed position.  
     
     
         26 . A reactor block according to  claim 25 , wherein the guide means comprise at least one pair of gatesper reaction vessel location, the gates of a pair being arranged substantially adjacent to opposing sides of the respective first closure means and a pin of the first closure means extending into each gate, so that the gates guide the pins in a plane substantially parallel to the inlet orifices and outlet orifices of the reaction vessels while the first closure means is near the opening position, and guide the pins in a direction inclined to this plane near the closing position of the first closure means so that the first closure means if moved to the closing position, is moved towards the inlets and outlets of the reaction vessels for closing them.  
     
     
         27 . A parallel reaction assembly comprising a reactor block having a plurality of locations for receiving a plurality of reaction vessels according to  claim 2;  and a plurality of reactor vessels according to  claim 2  disposed in the locations of the reactor block.  
     
     
         28 . A method of performing a plurality of chemical reactions comprising simultaneously performing a chemical reaction in each vessel of a parallel reaction assembly according to  claim 27.