Reaction block for parallel synthetic chemistry and vessel therefor

An apparatus for conducting at least two chemical reactions in reaction vessels, wherein the apparatus has at least two reaction vessels each of which comprises:

• (a) a single-piece body made of a polymeric material, the body defining a reaction chamber, a connection channel, and a discharge channel, each having an interior space;
• said body having an outer shape that corresponds to the inner shape of a corresponding cavity of a reaction block, said body being thereby adapted to be inserted into said cavity;
• (b) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each having an upper end with an opening therein;
• (c) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each having a bottom portion with an orifice therein;
• (d) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each tapering from the open upper end toward the bottom portion with decreasing cross-sectional area;
• and
• (e) the connection channel extending from the orifice of the bottom portion of the reaction chamber to the orifice of the bottom portion of the discharge channel and thereby fluidically connecting the interior space of the discharge channel with the interior space of the reaction chamber, said connection channel having a circular cross-section which decreases in diameter from the orifice of the bottom portion of the reaction chamber to the orifice of the bottom portion of the discharge channel,
• wherein the opening at the upper end of the reaction chamber and the opening at the upper end of the discharge channel are interconnected by a channel, hole or groove which fluidically connects the interior of the reaction chamber with the interior of the discharge channel.

A reactor block for performing a multiplicity of chemical reactions simultaneously, comprising:

• I. a vessel holder having at least two rows of at least two locations configured and dimensioned to receive a reaction vessel, wherein the reaction vessel comprises:
• (a) a single-piece body made of a polymeric material, the body defining a reaction chamber a connection channel, and a discharge channel;
• each having an interior space, said body having an outer shape that corresponds to the inner shape of a corresponding location of said vessel holder, said body being thereby adapted to be inserted into said cavity,
• (b) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each having an upper end with an opening therein;
• (c) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each having a bottom portion with an orifice therein;
• (d) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each tapering from the open upper end toward the bottom portion with decreasing cross-section;
• and
• (e) the connection channel extending from the orifice of the bottom portion of the reaction chamber to the orifice of the bottom portion of the discharge channel and thereby fluidically connecting the interior space of the discharge channel with the interior space of the reaction chamber;
• said connection channel having a circular cross-section which decreases in diameter from the orifice of the bottom portion of the reaction chamber to the orifice of the bottom portion of the discharge channel, wherein the opening at the upper end of the reaction chamber and the opening at the upper end of the discharge channel are interconnected by a channel, hole or groove, which fluidically connects the interior of the reaction chamber with the interior of the discharge channel and
• II. first closure means having openings, wherein,
• (a) the first closure means is movable in a sliding manner along a rectilinear path over the openings of the upper ends of the reaction chamber and discharge channel of the reaction vessels when the reaction vessels are received in the locations, and
• (b) the first closure means is slidable from a first position to a second position so that in the first position when the reaction vessels are received in the locations, the openings in the first closure means allow access to the openings of the upper ends of the reaction chamber and discharge channel of each vessel, and in the second position, the openings of the upper ends of the reaction chamber and discharge channel are closed by the first closure means resting on the open upper ends of the reaction chamber and discharge channel.

A reaction vessel for performing chemical reactions, said vessel comprising:

• (a) a single-piece body made of a polymeric material, shaped by injection molding using a mold and at least one core with a movable attached extension, the body defining a reaction chamber, a connection channel and a discharge channel, each having an interior space said body having an outer shape that corresponds to the inner shape of a corresponding cavity of a reaction block, said body being thereby adapted to be inserted into said cavity;
• (b) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each having an upper end with an opening therein;
• (c) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each having a bottom portion, with each bottom portion having an orifice therein;
• (d) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each tapering from the open upper end towards the bottom portion with decreasing cross-sectional area;
• (e) the connection channel being formed by the movable, attached extension of the core which is extracted from the connection channel through the reaction chamber or through the discharge channel after injection molding;
• and
• (f) the connection channel extending between the orifice of the bottom portion of the reaction chamber orifice and the orifice of the bottom portion of the discharge channel and thereby fluidically connecting the interior space of the discharge channel with the interior space of the reaction chamber, said connection channel having a circular cross-section which decreases in diameter from the orifice of the bottom portion of the reaction chamber to the orifice of the bottom portion of the discharge channel,
• wherein the opening at the upper end of the reaction chamber and the opening at the upper end of the discharge channel are interconnected by a channel, hole or groove which fluidically connects the interior of the reaction chamber with the interior of the discharge channel.

An apparatus for conducting at least two chemical reactions in reaction vessels, wherein the apparatus has at least two reaction vessels, each reaction vessel comprising:

• (a) a single-piece body made of a polymeric material, shaped by injection molding using a mold and at least one core with a movable attached extension, the body defining a reaction chamber, a connection channel and a discharge channel, each having an interior space said body having an outer shape that corresponds to the inner shape of a corresponding cavity of a reaction block, said body being thereby adapted to be inserted into said cavity;
• (b) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each having an upper end with an opening therein;
• (c) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each having a bottom portion, with each bottom portion having an orifice therein;
• (d) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each tapering from the open upper end towards the bottom portion with decreasing cross-sectional area;
• (e) the connection channel being formed by the movable, attached extension of the core which is extracted from the connection channel through the reaction chamber or through the discharge channel after injection molding;
• and
• (f) the connection channel extending between the orifice of the bottom portion of the reaction chamber orifice and the orifice of the bottom portion of the discharge channel and thereby fluidically connecting the interior space of the discharge channel with the interior space of the reaction chamber, said connection channel having a circular cross-section which decreases in diameter from the orifice of the bottom portion of the reaction chamber to the orifice of the bottom portion of the discharge channel,
• wherein the opening at the upper end of the reaction chamber and the opening at the upper end of the discharge channel are interconnected by a channel, hole or groove which fluidically connects the interior of the reaction chamber with the interior of the discharge channel.

A reactor block for performing a multiplicity of chemical reactions simultaneously comprising:

• I. a vessel holder having at least two rows of at least two locations configured and dimensioned to receive a reaction vessel, wherein the reaction vessel is able to be placed into said location and comprises:
• (a) a single-piece body made of a polymeric material, shaped by injection molding using a mold and at least one core with a movable attached extension, the body defining a reaction chamber having an interior space, a connection channel and a discharge channel said body having an outer shape that corresponds to the inner shape of a corresponding cavity of a reaction block, said body being thereby adapted to be inserted into said cavity;
• (b) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each having an upper end with an opening therein;
• (c) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each having a bottom portion, with each bottom portion having an orifice therein;
• (d) the reaction chamber and the discharge channel each tapering from the open upper end towards the bottom portion with decreasing cross-section;
• (e) the connection channel being formed by the movable, attached extension of the core which is extracted from the connection channel through the reaction chamber or through the discharge channel after injection molding;
• and
• (f) the connection channel extending between the orifice of the bottom portion of the reaction chamber orifice and the orifice of the bottom portion of the discharge channel and thereby fluidically connecting the interior space of the discharge channel with the interior space of the reaction chamber;
• said connection channel having a circular cross-section which decreases in diameter from the orifice of the bottom portion of the reaction chamber to the orifice of the bottom portion of the discharge channel,
• wherein the opening at the upper end of the reaction chamber and the opening at the upper end of the discharge channel are interconnected by a channel, hole or groove which fluidically connects the interior of the reaction chamber with the interior of the discharge channel, and
• II. first closure means having openings, wherein,
• (a) the first closure means is movable in a sliding manner along a rectilinear path over the openings of the upper ends of the reaction chamber and discharge channel of the reaction vessels when the reaction vessels are received in the locations, and
• (b) the first closure means is slidable from a first position to a second position so that in the first position when the reaction vessels are received in the locations, the openings in the first closure means allow access to the openings of the upper ends of the reaction chamber and discharge channel of each vessel, and in the second position, the openings of the upper ends of the reaction chamber and discharge channel are closed by the first closure means resting on the open upper ends of the reaction chamber and discharge channel.