Extending Highthroughput Technologies: The Automation of Mechanism Discovery
Investigations into the mode and action of the thio-Michael Reaction

Abstract

This project concerns the investigation of the thio-Michael reaction (see scheme). The approach has employed a process development methodology to chemical discovery rather than more traditional research methods. Stage One involved the investigation of rates of addition with and without different catalysts to develop an understanding of the thio-Michael system.


Further studies with asymmetric catalysts were carried out. Stage Two involved the use of adiabatic calorimetry and advanced reaction modelling to provide a complete understanding of the thio-Michael reaction under study. From this, the mechanism we propose is a new, self-accelerating process, in which the product may catalyse collapse of one observable intermediate to the product. The exact mode of this autocatalytic step is not clear at present, but is the subject of ongoing studies as is the generality of this new mechanistic insight into the Michael addition reaction.