The Advantages of Synthetic Chemistry
Innovations in synthetic chemistry are essential for the discovery of the next generation of medicines. Our novel synthetic methods can unlock access to previously unobtainable chemical matter.
Synthetic chemistry allows access to the desired new drug candidates for in vitro and in vivo testing, and designing and executing the best synthetic route is critical for the efficient progression of projects by reducing the Design-Make-Test (DMT) cycle time of compound synthesis to data point.
Synthetic Chemistry Core Capabilities and Equipment
- Multi-stage syntheses: (>10 steps) from milligram to kilogram quantities (support of the scale-up team: process scale-up chemistry)
- Chiral synthesis: Strong experience in developing enantioselective synthetic routes with in-house access to supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC)
- Protein degraders: Expertise in design and synthesis using a state-of-the-art chemical toolbox to accelerate research (targeted protein degradation services)
- Parallel & library chemistry: Use of array chemistry to rapidly perform iterative SAR development, accelerating medicinal chemistry data generation
- High-throughput experimentation (HTE) using bespoke and commercial kits (24-well sigma plate) to accelerate identification of optimal reaction conditions
- Strong expertise in focused libraries design and production through plate-based chemistry to drive drug discovery projects
- Development and validation of synthetic routes to previously unknown scaffolds
- Photochemistry: Track record of successful use of photochemistry to undertake the most complex chemical transformations
- PhD Penn reactor and a range of Kessil lamps (blue & purple light LEDs)
- High-throughput 24-well blocks (445 & 385 nm) suitable for small screening reactions under photochemistry conditions
- Flow Chemistry: Expertise in flow chemistry to improve reaction times and profiles, supported by H-cube and IKA flow kits
- Photochemistry in flow to optimize light penetration and short irradiation times to maximize conversion & minimize degradation
- Hydrogenation suite: Atmospheric, Parr, H-Cube
- Electrochemistry: ElectraSyn 2.0 to access unique reactions
- Automated chemistry: Synple automated synthesizer to significantly accelerate chemical synthesis
- Ozonolysis: For access to oxidative cleavage and dihydroxylation of double bonds
Charles River has an experienced synthetic chemistry services team of more than 100 chemists, over 70% of whom have completed PhD and postdoctoral training. We can provide guidance to best support your needs.
The Race to Clinic: Removing Compound Supply Obstacles from the Critical Path
Move compound supply issues off the critical path. Insist on a close working relationship between your medicinal, process, and manufacturing chemists. Register for our webinar to learn how to ensure seamless supply and clinical success. Plan early, deliver fast.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Synthetic Chemistry Services
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How does the Charles River team ensure that compounds are synthetized in the most efficient manner?
Our chemistry team has extensive experience designing synthetic routes to novel client molecules, drawing upon a wide range of synthetic expertise and technologies, supported with access to SciFindern, which includes full retrosynthetic analysis powered by CAS and ChemPlanner®, helping to increase the likelihood of a "right the first time" approach to synthetic chemistry execution.
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What capability does Charles River have in place to support the most effective compound purification strategies that will minimize synthesis-to-datapoint timelines?
Synthetic chemistry services are supported by a dedicated purification sciences team (analytical chemistry services) with extensive expertise in UV/mass-directed preparative HPLC, and Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) for rapid enantiomeric separation of stereogenic mixtures and achiral separations.
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What business models are available for synthetic chemistry services?
Synthetic chemistry services can be provided either stand alone or as part of larger integrated packages. If you are interested in discussing our chemistry services or bespoke synthesis of your molecule(s) of interest, contact our chemists.
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What scale of chemistry can you support?
Our chemistry teams have access to all industry standard glassware and supporting equipment which allows chemistry to be carried out typically up to the 3 L scale, facilitating rapid access of 10s of grams of key intermediates and final compounds. Additionally, within our dedicated large-scale chemistry team (process scale-up chemistry), we can develop and execute chemistry to the 20 L scale, allowing access to Kgs of key late-stage intermediates and final compounds where required, to support medicinal chemistry teams and larger in vivo studies.