Advanced Life Sciences, Inc.

G.d. Searle & Company

Lisa M Seaney

Michael T Flavin

Claire A Przybyla

Kevin A Babiak

Donald E Korte

Pierre-Jean Colson

Bruce Eric Wise

A method and workstation for optimizing chemical processes based on combinatorial chemistry, automation technology, and computer-controlled design is disclosed. The workstation includes a synthesizer, an analyzer, a robot and computer in communication with the synthesizer and analyzer. The computer includes one or more programs for regulating reaction parameters such as temperature, pressure, concentration of reagents and employs statistical methods for optimizing multiple reaction parameters and for designing optimized experiments for further investigation.

Use of automated technology in chemical process research and development

A process for producing a lactam of the formula ##STR1## wherein 2-bromo-4 chloro butyryl bromide or 2,4-dibromo butyryl bromide is coupled with 4-aminobenzonitrile to produce 4-(2,4-bromobutyrylamino)-benzonitrile, which is combined with sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate to produce 4-(3-bromo-2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzonitrile which is subjected to an excess of ammonium hydroxide to produce compounds of the formula (I).

Process for the preparation of a 2-oxopyrrolidine compound

Growing community of inventors

Glen Ellyn, IL, United States of America

Lisa M Seaney