High throughput solid phase chemical synthesis utilizing thin cylindrical reaction vessels useable for biological assay

Abstract

A high throughput chemical synthesis system utilizing cylindrical reaction vessels is disclosed. Reaction vessels are utilized which include a tubular member adapted for placement of electronically readable identifying indicia thereon. The identifying indicia are representative of reaction conditions within the tubular member and of one or more reagents utilized in a reaction within the tubular members. A method of performing chemical synthesis on solid phase reactive material within a plurality of reaction vessels using a plurality of reaction stages resulting in final products and employing identifying indicia representing the reaction stages is also disclosed. The method includes reading the identifying indicia located on the reaction vessels, reacting one or more reagents within the reaction vessels under particular reaction conditions which may be determined by reading the identifying indicia, thereby synthesizing chemical compounds within the reaction vessels. The method allows chemical synthesis to occur according to a predetermined set of reactions and also allows for combinatorial chemistry to be performed utilizing random mix and split techniques. The final synthesized products may be tested for chemical or biological activity. The chemical structures of desired end products may be obtained by reading recorded information wherein the reaction conditions and reagents of reaction steps have been recorded, preferably in conjunction with the identifying indicia.