Abstract

Next Gen Syn

Kerry Gilmore, Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut

With an ever-increasing mastery over the methods of bond formation and functional group transformation, what is the next stage of development for organic chemists? In this talk, we will discuss how the role of a chemist is shifting away from the instrument that performs the reactions to what we chemists are trained for – analysis, constructing understanding, and extrapolating from both an experimental and conceptual level. The two key tools being integrated that will drive this shift are automation and machine learning. We will discuss how automated instrumentation can and should be developed, aimed at complementarity and connectedness as opposed to “one ring to rule them all”. We will also look to the use of machine learning to predict complex, sensitive processes – but from a broader, not reaction specific, perspective. Finally, we’ll touch on how these tools can be made accessible and integrated to achieve rapid development in a site-independent manner.