Noel Research Group

Nov 11, 11:30 AM EST: Join our next #ACSeminar ft. @tnoel82.bsky.social to learn about #RoboChem, an autonomous laboratory system that integrates flow reactors, real-time analytics, custom control software + machine learning algorithms.

Register: airtable.com/appYBjHgttvB...

My student forgot to add a stir bar to a biphasic reaction in a sealed container. I said let's go ahead and try after reading that paper. Lo and behold, we got almost no conversion. The reaction worked fine when resubjected with a stir bar. At least for biphasic reactions, it's still crucial to stir

Our ChemRxiv article keeps moving; thanks #ChemistryWorld for covering the debate. Critics say it’s “too early” for conclusions, yet mixing principles are grounded in 100+ years of science. Read and make up your own mind.

Here is our @chemrxiv.org article: chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

😂 this will be a great example to add 😂

Our ChemRxiv article keeps moving; thanks #ChemistryWorld for covering the debate. Critics say it’s “too early” for conclusions, yet mixing principles are grounded in 100+ years of science. Read and make up your own mind.

Here is our @chemrxiv.org article: chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

All stirred up: chemical engineers refute claims that ‘stirring doesn’t matter’ Failing to mix reactions in heterogeneous or industrial systems could cause numerous issues and might even be dangerous, preprint claims

Earlier this year, a paper came out that suggested for many organic reactions stirring has little effect on reactions rates. Now, a group has released a preprint arguing that stirring remains critical for reproducibility, selectivity and scalability.

Donna Blackmond opened yesterday's morning w/ a talk on mechanistic studies, followed by Timothy Noel @tnoel82.bsky.social who presented latest advancements in automated #FlowChemistry.
Join the FREE livestream 🎥 and follow TODAY's program: https://tinyurl.com/7mhrbyap
#BeilsteinShapingSynthesis2025

We built a machine learning–guided workflow to optimize reaction conditions for photochemical nickel-catalyzed cysteine arylation; no specialized robots or fancy HTE plates needed!

Check it out @chemrxiv.org : chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

#MachineLearning #ReactionOptimization

We built a machine learning–guided workflow to optimize reaction conditions for photochemical nickel-catalyzed cysteine arylation; no specialized robots or fancy HTE plates needed!

Check it out @chemrxiv.org : chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

#MachineLearning #ReactionOptimization

We felt a sense of urgency to summarize why mixing matters in synthetic organic chemistry.

Our takeaway: don’t toss those stir bars yet!
The truth is more complex than it may seem.

Read our ChemRxiv preprint: chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

#Chemistry #Mixing #Reproducibility

We felt a sense of urgency to summarize why mixing matters in synthetic organic chemistry.

Our takeaway: don’t toss those stir bars yet!
The truth is more complex than it may seem.

Read our ChemRxiv preprint: chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

#Chemistry #Mixing #Reproducibility

Don’t miss Timothy Noël @tnoel82.bsky.social (University of Amsterdam) giving an online @gdch.de lecture organized by the Liebig-Vereinigung.
#ChemSky

Details and registration: gdch.app/event/from-b...

New @chemrxiv.bsky.social preprint!

RoboChem-Flex is a powerful, low-cost (<5k EUR), modular self-driving lab for chemical synthesis

We showcase 6 studies (photochemistry, biocatalysis, cross coupling, ee ...), all optimized with different configurations & ML

🔗 chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

✨The Dream Reactions Symposium has begun! ✨

Today at the castle in Münster, brilliant scientists have gathered to share groundbreaking ideas in chemistry, sustainability, and innovation. 🌍⚗️

A huge thank you to our speakers —let’s make this symposium unforgettable!

#DreamReactions #Sustainability

Dream Reactions Symposium – Wrap-Up Part I ✨

Our speakers are truly passionate about driving towards a positive change! 🌍

Special congratulations to @fragrisoni.bsky.social, the very first recipient of the Green Dream Reactions Award!! 🏆👏

#DreamReactions#Sustainability

Tech-Enhanced Synthesis: Exploring the Synergy between Organic Chemistry and Technology Recent years have witnessed growing interest in integrating enabling technologies into synthetic organic chemistry to address long-standing challenges in reproducibility, sustainability, and scalability. This perspective showcases how modern tools, ranging from continuous-flow reactors and electrochemical cells to photochemical technologies, biocatalysis, mechanochemistry, and self-driving laboratories, are reshaping the way chemists design, perform, and optimize reactions. Through selected case studies, we highlight how these technologies not only solve specific reactivity and process issues but also open new avenues for reactivity discovery and chemical innovation. Rather than viewing technology as a complication, we advocate for its adoption as a natural extension of synthetic creativity, capable of enhancing safety, reducing waste, and expanding accessible chemical space. Our aim is to inspire broader implementation and interdisciplinary training to equip the next generation of chemists with the tools to rethink how synthesis is performed in the 21st century.

Our group’s mission: exploring the synergy between organic chemistry & technology.

In our new @jacs.acspublications.org Perspective, we highlight 6 technologies reshaping synthetic organic chemistry:

⚙️ Flow
💡 Photo
⚡ Electro
🌱 Bio
🌀 Mechano
🤖 Automation

👉 doi.org/10.1021/jacs...

For SusPharma, sustainability is not a single task — it’s the foundation of every process, reaction and solution across the project.
#SustainableByDesign #SusPharma

Tech-Enhanced Synthesis: Exploring the Synergy between Organic Chemistry and Technology Recent years have witnessed growing interest in integrating enabling technologies into synthetic organic chemistry to address long-standing challenges in reproducibility, sustainability, and scalability. This perspective showcases how modern tools, ranging from continuous-flow reactors and electrochemical cells to photochemical technologies, biocatalysis, mechanochemistry, and self-driving laboratories, are reshaping the way chemists design, perform, and optimize reactions. Through selected case studies, we highlight how these technologies not only solve specific reactivity and process issues but also open new avenues for reactivity discovery and chemical innovation. Rather than viewing technology as a complication, we advocate for its adoption as a natural extension of synthetic creativity, capable of enhancing safety, reducing waste, and expanding accessible chemical space. Our aim is to inspire broader implementation and interdisciplinary training to equip the next generation of chemists with the tools to rethink how synthesis is performed in the 21st century.

Our group’s mission: exploring the synergy between organic chemistry & technology.

In our new @jacs.acspublications.org Perspective, we highlight 6 technologies reshaping synthetic organic chemistry:

⚙️ Flow
💡 Photo
⚡ Electro
🌱 Bio
🌀 Mechano
🤖 Automation

👉 doi.org/10.1021/jacs...

We Will do that after final version is Published. Working on that, paper is submitted now 🍀

A Flexible and Affordable Self-Driving Laboratory for Automated Reaction Optimization Self-driving laboratories (SDLs) have the potential to revolutionize chemical discovery and optimization, yet their widespread adoption remains limited by high costs, complex infrastructure, and limited accessibility. Here, we introduce RoboChem-Flex, a low-cost, modular self-driving laboratory platform designed to democratize autonomous chemical experimentation. The system combines customizable, in-house-built hardware with a flexible Python-based software framework that integrates real-time device control and advanced Bayesian optimization strategies, including multi-objective and transfer learning workflows. RoboChem-Flex supports both fully autonomous closed-loop operation and human-in-the-loop configurations, enabling seamless integration with shared analytical equipment and minimizing entry barriers. We validate the versatility of the platform across six diverse case studies, including photocatalysis, biocatalysis, thermal cross-couplings, and enantioselective catalysis, spanning both single and multi-objective optimizations. Through these campaigns, we demonstrate RoboChem-Flex’s ability to navigate large, complex chemical spaces, autonomously identify scalable high-performance reaction conditions, and flexibly adapt to a variety of analytical setups. By providing an affordable, scalable, and open platform, RoboChem-Flex offers a tangible step toward making SDLs accessible to resource-limited laboratories, fostering broader participation in automated chemical research.

#RobSelects preprint of the week #ChemRxiv: A frugal flow-based self-driving laboratory platform for optimization of diverse organic reactions. #autochem https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2025-73xqf

You are cordially invited to apply for a conference grant 💰 for the Beilstein Organic Chemistry Symposium “Technologies shaping future directions in synthesis”, in Limburg, Germany, 📅 October 14–16, 2025.
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/srmfjdwx
#BeilsteinShapingSynthesis2025
@annagslater.bsky.social

🚫 Current self-driving labs (SDLs) cost >$100K, blocking access for most researchers.

💡 Enter RoboChem-Flex: A fully modular, AI-driven lab for under €5K.

Built to democratize automation in chemistry. Open, affordable, and powerful.

🔗 chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

Ooh cool! It's exciting to see hardware for self-driving labs getting cheaper/easier to set up. #CompChem 🧪⚗️

🙏 thank you for the kind words 🙏

e.g. integrating the UHPLC-MS was a pain as the software from Agilent is proprietary and thus reading out the data is simply made impossible - barring potential closed loop operation. we found a solution but it took a lot of time...

we believe that writing/building/assembling it yourself helps to understand the tricky details of every component. End-to-end integration helps to make an SDL that simply works better than e.g. buying of the shelf equipment, assembling it and then realize that most are an impenetrable black box

Due to the multidisciplinarity, incl. many different chemistries, we needed a whole bunch of competences. 1 technician, 4 postdocs, 6 PhD, 2 MSc and 5 PIs.

🚫 Current self-driving labs (SDLs) cost >$100K, blocking access for most researchers.

💡 Enter RoboChem-Flex: A fully modular, AI-driven lab for under €5K.

Built to democratize automation in chemistry. Open, affordable, and powerful.

🔗 chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

The team worked their ass off to make this SI! We are happy it is so appreciated 🙏

Just scrolled through it, but this:
A) looks amazing
B) is how you should write a supplementary information