Microwave Instruments

    The three CEM Discover microwave units we have act as the workhorses for the group. The flexibility of the system and its modular design opens avenues for a wide range of conditions and variables to be investigated, giving it great versatility in the laboratory. The Discover allows us to run reactions at up to 300°C and 300 psi in 10-mL or 80-mL sealed vessels. Additionally, open-vessel reactions can be run using conventional round-bottom flasks (up to 125 mL) equipped with a reflux condenser. The S-Class is the newest in the CEM Discover series and their premier microwave synthesis system. By using fuzzy logic, the S-Class offers improved reaction parameter monitoring and control; a benefit to us in some of our more complex experiments. The new Synergy™ software gives us greater capability to follow reactions in real-time as well improved flexibility in data storage and output.

               

    An interesting accessory to the Discover line is the CoolMate external cooling device. This device essentially allows us to run reactions at sub-ambient temperatures but with the introduction of significant microwave power. In principle, this could open up avenues for running reactions at room temperature or below in minutes that conventionally take many hours. Reactions involving thermally unstable substrates such as carbohydrates or main-group organometallics may benefit from this technique. In essence, this apparatus takes the concept of simultaneous cooling to an extreme. The apparatus allows us to work in temperature ranges from -50°C to 50°C, the temperature being controlled by the rate of flow of the cryogenic fluid as well as the microwave power used.

SAIREM especially designed instrument, working at 915 MHz with 5 KW and with a larger wavelength that the traditional 2.45 GHz equiments, permits to scale reactions under  microwave irradiation up to 2 L.

         

Second 915 MHz equipment working a 100 W for use with small scale samples (<100 mL).

    

 

The Milestone MultiSynth is new in 2006. It can operate as either a monomode or multimode apparatus allowing for single reactions to be performed on small (0.2 – 6 mL) and larger scales (up to 1 L). Multiple reactions can also be performed; the apparatus accommodating up to 12 smaller scale vessels and up to six 40-mL capacity vessels. It also has unique "vortex agitation" feature. The vessels can be mechanically shaken during the course of the reaction to ensure homogeneity of reaction temperature. We have used the MultiSynth for rapid optimization of reaction conditions in a monomode function and then substrate screening in a multimode function.

Instrument for the determination of the Dielectric parameters of liquids.

Microwave-on-flow Chemistry

    Model 521i adds the CE mark to the model 521. Includes a certificate of compliance and an instruction manual in the customer's language.

    Model 521 is the most advanced instrument with the most quality minded features. In addition to the features found in the 520B we have added an Infrared Thermometer to the system to monitor and proportionately control the temperature at the surface of the reaction vial.

    The instrument may be operated in power mode with the same power monitoring functions as the 520B or in temperature mode. In temperature mode the user sets the desired temperature and the maximum output power. When a control cycle is initiated, the instrument applies the maximum power until the temperature reaches the set value and then proportionately controls the temperature until the cycle time ends.