Programmable Microwaveable Chemistry in the Chemputer

The advancement of laboratory automation relies on both sophisticated control software and modular hardware capable of supporting diverse chemical processes. While microwave-assisted synthesis offers significant benefits, its integration into automated platforms has been limited by challenges in standardization, scalability, and safety. Herein, we present an automated platform featuring two distinct microwave modules for temperature control, each offering complementary advantages. The first employs a coaxial antenna delivering up to 450 W at 2.45 GHz for flexible applications across various reactor scales. The second consists of a pressurized flow-cell cavity with in-situ infrared sensing for real-time temperature monitoring. To validate the platform, a series of microwave-assisted reactions were executed under the abstract control of the Chemical Description Language (χDL). Over 680 χDL base steps capture the synthesis of six compounds through O-alkylations, Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings, ring-closing metathesis, and solid-phase peptide synthesis. Reactions ranged from 2 to 20 h, with volumes from 10 to 250 mL, demonstrating the platform's robustness and versatility. This work extends the Chemputer's capabilities to include safe, scalable microwave-driven synthesis, establishing a foundation for broader adoption of programmable, automated chemistry.