Self-driving labs are transforming chemistry; but high cost & complexity limit access to a few well-funded labs.

We wanted to change that.

Our new paper in #NatureSynthesis introduces RoboChem-Flex 🧪🤖

🔗https://nature.com/articles/s44160-026-01053-0

#selfdrivinglab #flowchemistry #optimization

First stop in USA East Coast lecture tour: Merck Rahway, great to discuss #FlowChemistry, #HTE, #SelfDrivingLabs and synthetic methodology with our friends in the pharma industry

Great talk by @dimanagornii.bsky.social from the group of Timothy Noël (@tnoel82.bsky.social) at #Lunteren2026. He talked about the late-stage modification of aryl compounds with NCF3 and SCF3 groups using flow chemistry.
chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10....
#ChemSky #FlowChemistry

📣 Thrilled to announce our incredible speaker lineup for the 2026 edition of #ETOC Online Symposium on April 29-30th.🗓️ Join us by registering today and to stay up-to-date! : tinyurl.com/ETOC2026-reg... (1/3)

📄 We report a radical disconnection strategy that enables the direct, single-step conversion of α-amino acids into differentiated vicinal diamines via photocatalytic decarboxylation.

Broad scope, functional-group tolerant, and scalable in flow.

🔗 @chemrxiv.org: chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

📄 New Paper Alert: We report a radical disconnection strategy that enables the direct, single-step photocatalytic conversion of α-amino acids into differentiated vicinal diamines.

Broad scope, functional-group tolerant, and scalable in flow.

🔗 @chemrxiv.org: chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

We combine ML + #DigitalTwins to autonomously design photoreactors with high light capture and uniform irradiation. A virtual photoreactor guides #BayesianOptimization, allowing numerous designs in silico and fabrication only of the best candidates.

🔗 @chemrxiv.org : chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

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...

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...

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 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

I think you want to have good control over transport phenomena so that you are close to intrinsic kinetics. Then you can use classical correlations to help with the design of the large scale processes

I believe yes. Depends what you refer to Here. Conditions found on small scale can be scaled to larger throughput reactors

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...

The thematic issue “#Photocatalysis and #photochemistry in #OrganicSynthesis” ed. by Timothy Noel @tnoel82.bsky.social and Bartholomäus (Bart) Pieber @istaresearch.bsky.social in the #BJOC 💎🔓 is complete ✅
DL the complete issue PDF incl. the editorial with just 1 click 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/58das3cu

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...

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

A factor 20-100 cheaper AND it is just the best SDL assembly we ever worked with!

Robochem-Flex is incredibly versatile and extremely powerful.

Check it out 👇

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

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...

🆕 Preprint out now on @chemrxiv.bsky.social!

We report a modular flow cascade for the synthesis of γ- & N-substituted γ-lactams via photochemical radical alkylation and cyclization.

Fast, scalable & broad scope!

🔗 chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

#FlowChemistry #Photochemistry #Lactams

New paper in #GreenChemistry!

We developed a recyclable ionic liquid photocatalyst based on decatungstate (DT-IL) 💡

✅ Easy synthesis ✅ Broad solvent compatibility
✅ 100× higher concentrations ✅ Fully recyclable

🔗 pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

#Photocatalysis #FlowChemistry

I had a great day in Amsterdam, giving a talk at the University of Amsterdam and then acting as one of the external examiners at my first Dutch PhD viva, and finally getting to witness the celebrations through the canals of Amsterdam. Thanks @tnoel82.bsky.social for the invite and hosting.

Our latest study presents a photocatalytic platform that enables the Minisci alkylation of heteroarenes using C1-C4 hydrocarbons under continuous-flow conditions.

No prefunctionalized reagents—just change the gas to vary the alkyl moiety!

Now at #ACSCentralScience: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

'Go' With The Flow' 2025 poster in English. Abstract submission deadline 12th May, General Registration deadline 26th May.

'Go' With The Flow' 2025 poster in Welsh. Abstract submission deadline 12th May, General Registration deadline 26th May.

I am proud to announce the second annual ‘Go With The Flow’ conference for 2025.
The conference will take place on June 9th.
This year our plenary speakers are Professor Tim Noёl, @tnoel82.bsky.social, Professor Stephen Hilton, and Dr Charlotte Willans.

See the poster for details:
🧪 #flowchemistry

Ni/photoredox-catalyzed methylation of (hetero)aryl bromides using air-stable DABAl-Me₃ — also flow-compatible and scalable.

Mechanistic studies reveal an unprecedented generation of a methyl radical from an organoaluminum compound.

Now
@chemrxiv.bsky.social: chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

Agreed! That’s why multiple-author papers (for intralab reproducibility), thorough mechanistic studies, and solid follow-up work are so important.

Sometimes, issues come down to hidden variables rather than fabrication—so it's crucial to investigate before assuming the worst!

We published our methodology & are now working on a mechanistic study to explain why the original paper might have lacked crucial details. Interestingly, some retracted follow-ups likely had the right idea but missed these key nuances—we think we can now explain their mistakes!