Patents Assigned to Symyx Technologies
  • Parallel semi-continuous or continuous reactor system
    Patent number: 7115234
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reacting a plurality of different mixtures in parallel in a semi-batch or continuous mode is provided. Each reaction is contained within a reactor vessel, the reactor vessels combined into a reactor block. Reactant(s) to be added during the reaction are kept in a header barrel, which has a plunger to feed reactant(s) from the header barrel through a transfer line into the reactor vessel. The plunger is moved using a drive system. The header barrels are optionally combined in a header block. The header block is sealed to a plate containing the transfer lines, which in turn is sealed to the reactor block. A latch mechanism is provided for easy sealing of the reactor and header blocks to the plate. The entire apparatus may be placed on a rocker or rotating plate for mixture as the reaction is proceeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Christopher Freitag, Damian Hajduk, Ralph B. Nielsen, Adam Safir, Richard Tiede
  • Parallel reactor with knife-edge seal
    Patent number: 7115231
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in parallel reaction of materials. The apparatus includes a base having a plurality of reaction wells formed therein and a sealing device positioned over the reaction wells for individually sealing each of the reaction wells. One of the sealing device and the base having chamfered ridges extending generally around a periphery of each of said plurality of reaction wells. The other of the sealing device and the base having a contact surface formed of a material softer than the material of the chamfered ridges to create a knife-edge seal between the sealing device and the base when the sealing device and the base are forced into contact with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiao Ping Zhou, Sam Bergh, Christopher E. Dube, Lynn Van Erden
  • Apparatus for pressing and other mechanical treatment of materials such as catalysts
    Patent number: 7111802
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combinatorial (i.e., high-throughput) materials research, such as catalysis research, that involves parallel apparatus for simultaneously effecting mechanical treatments such as grinding, mixing, pressing, crushing, sieving, and/or fractionating of such materials are disclosed. The methods and apparatus are useful for mechanically treating catalysis materials and other solid materials, including without limitation, electronic materials such as phosphors, colorants such as pigments, and pharmaceuticals such as crystalline drugs or drug candidates. The simultaneous protocols and parallel apparatus offer substantial improvements in overall throughput for preparing arrays of materials, such as catalysis materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Claus G. Lugmair, Alfred Hagemeyer, Lynn Van Erden, Anthony F. Volpe, Jr., David M. Lowe, Yumin Liu
  • High throughput permeability testing of materials libraries
    Patent number: 7112443
    Abstract: A library of material samples is screened for properties such as permeability. A library of material samples is provided. A stimulus such as an exposure to a permeate fluid is provided to each member of the library. A response of each of the material samples due to the stimulus is measured and the response, the stimulus or both are recorded and related to provide data. Thereafter, the data is analyzed to reach conclusions regarding the properties of the material samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Damian A. Hajduk, Oleg Kolosov
  • Bridged bi-aromatic ligands, catalysts, processes for polymerizing and polymers therefrom
    Publication number: 20060211892
    Abstract: New ligands and compositions with bridged bis-aromatic ligands are disclosed that catalyze the polymerization of monomers into polymers. These catalysts with metal centers have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, propylene or styrene. The catalysts also polymerize propylene into isotactic polypropylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Applicant: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Boussie, Oliver Brummer, Gary Diamond, Christopher Goh, Anne LaPointe, Margarete Leclerc, James Shoemaker
  • Bridged bi-aromatic catalysts, complexes, and methods of using the same
    Publication number: 20060205588
    Abstract: Ligands, compositions, metal-ligand complexes and arrays with substituted bridged bis-biaromatic ligands, and methods of making and using the same, are disclosed that are useful in the catalysis of transformations such as the polymerization of monomers into polymers. The catalysts have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, propylene or styrene. The catalysts also polymerize propylene into isotactic polypropylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Boussie, Oliver Bruemmer, Gary Diamond, Anne LaPointe, Margarete Leclerc, Cynthia Micklatcher, Pu Sun, Xiaohong Bei
  • Fuel cell electrocatalyst of Pt-Rh-Mo-Ni/Fe
    Patent number: 7101639
    Abstract: An improved metal alloy fuel cell electrocatalyst composition containing platinum, rhodium, molybdenum, and nickel iron or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignees: Symyx Technologies, Inc., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Alexander Gorer, Peter Strasser, Martin Devenney, Qun Fan, Konstantinos Chondroudis, Daniel M. Giaquinta, Ting He, Hiroyuki Oyanagi, Kenta Urata, Kazuhiko Iwasaki, Hiroichi Fukuda
  • Platinum-ruthenium containing catalyst formulations for hydrogen generation
    Publication number: 20060194694
    Abstract: A method and catalysts for producing a hydrogen-rich syngas are disclosed. According to the method a CO-containing gas contacts a water gas shift (WGS) catalyst, optionally in the presence of water, preferably at a temperature of less than about 450° C. to produce a hydrogen-rich gas, such as a hydrogen-rich syngas. Also disclosed is a water gas shift catalyst formulated from: a) Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof; b) Ru, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and c) at least one of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, V, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Rh, Ir, Ge, Sn, Sb, La, Ce, Pr, Sm, and Eu. Another disclosed catalyst formulation comprises Pt, its oxides or mixtures thereof; Ru, its oxides or mixtures thereof; Co, its oxides or mixtures thereof; and at least one of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, V, Mo, Mn, Fe, Rh, Ir, Ge, Sn, Sb, La, Ce, Pr, Sm, and Eu, their oxides and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Applicants: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Hagemeyer, Raymond Carhart, Karin Yaccato, Peter Strasser, Robert Grasselli, Christopher Brooks, Cory Phillips
  • Bridged bi-aromatic catalysts, complexes, and methods of using the same
    Patent number: 7091292
    Abstract: Ligands, compositions, metal-ligand complexes and arrays with substituted bridged bis-biaromatic ligands, and methods of making and using the same, are disclosed that are useful in the catalysis of transformations such as the polymerization of monomers into polymers. The catalysts have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, propylene or styrene. The catalysts also polymerize propylene into isotactic polypropylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Boussie, Oliver Bruemmer, Gary M. Diamond, Anne M. LaPointe, Margarete K. Leclerc, Cynthia Micklatcher, Pu Sun, Xiaohong Bei
  • Substituted pyridyl amine catalysts and processes for polymerizing crystalline polymers
    Patent number: 7087690
    Abstract: New ligands, compositions, metal-ligand complexes and arrays with pyridyl-amine ligands are disclosed that catalyze the polymerization of monomers into polymers. Certain of these catalysts with hafnium metal centers have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, isobutylene or styrene. Certain of the catalysts are particularly effective at polymerizing propylene to high molecular weight isotactic polypropylene in a solution process at a variety of polymerization conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Boussie, Gary M. Diamond, Christopher Goh, Keith A. Hall, Anne M. Lapointe, Margarete K. Leclerc, Cheryl Lund, Vince Murphy
  • Laboratory database system and methods for combinatorial materials research
    Patent number: 7085773
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer program apparatus, are described for implementing techniques for processing data from a combinatorial experiment. The techniques include receiving data from a chemical experiment on a library of materials having a plurality of members and generating a representation of the chemical experiment. The representation includes data defining an experiment object having a plurality of properties derived from the chemical experiment. The experiment object is associated with the library of materials. The representation also includes data defining one more element objects. Each element object is associated with one or more members of the library of materials. A data model and corresponding data structures for describing such experiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Dorsett, Jr.
  • Parser for generating structured data
    Publication number: 20060168515
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for processing input data and for defining processing operations to be performed on such data. Input data is processed according to a data parser description associated with the input data format, and output data is generated based on the processing. The data parser description includes a plurality of leaf nodes and a plurality of branch nodes arranged in a tree structure. The leaf nodes each have an associated function. Each of the branch nodes has one or more associated child nodes selected from leaf nodes and other branch nodes. The nodes of the data parser description are evaluated in an order defined by the tree structure. For branch nodes, one or more of the associated child nodes are evaluated; for leaf nodes, the associated function is executed based on data in a current location in the input data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Dorsett, Fabrice Ferino
  • High throughput screen for identifying polymerization catalysts from potential catalysts
    Patent number: 7078164
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for screening potential catalysts for polymerization performance. The method includes the steps of reacting a potential catalyst with at least a first monomer under polymerization conditions, determining the polymerization performance of the catalyst with the at least first monomer, and using the determination as a predictor for the polymerization performance of the catalyst for at least a second monomer, wherein the first and second monomers are different from each other and the first monomer is an olefin other than ethylene. The method provides a useful, concrete and tangible result that has particular value for identifying appropriate catalysts for olefin polymerization and copolymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary M. Diamond, Christopher Goh, Margarete K. Leclerc, Vince Murphy, Howard W. Turner
  • Method and apparatus for characterizing materials by using a mechanical resonator
    Patent number: 7073370
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring properties of a liquid composition includes a mechanical resonator, such as a cantilever, connected to a measurement circuit. The mechanical resonator can be covered with a coating to impart additional special detection propertied to the resonator, and multiple resonators can be attached together as a single sensor to obtain multiple frequency responses. The invention is particularly suitable for combinatorial chemistry applications, which require rapid analysis of chemical properties for screening. In one embodiment, the resonator is operated at a frequency of less than 1 MHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies
    Inventors: Leonid Matsiev, James Bennett, Eric McFarland
  • Styrene polymers and phenol-triazole type complexes, catalysts, and processes for polymerizing
    Patent number: 7074870
    Abstract: Metal-ligand complexes that are useful as precursors to catalysts for the polymerization of olefins are provided. Certain of the catalysts are particularly effective at polymerizing ethylene and styrene into copolymers having novel properties, including a low molecular weight and close comparison between vinyl and methyl end groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver Brümmer, Gary M. Diamond, Christopher Goh, Anne M. LaPointe, Margarete K. Leclerc, James Longmire, James A. W. Shoemaker
  • High pressure parallel reactor
    Publication number: 20060147354
    Abstract: A method for reacting a plurality of materials in parallel within a reactor vessel having a plurality of reaction wells formed therein. Each of the reaction wells has an open end exposed to a common pressure chamber defined by the reactor vessel. The method includes opening a cover of the reactor vessel, inserting components into the reaction wells, closing the cover of the reactor vessel to create a sealed chamber, supplying a gas substantially above atmospheric pressure that reacts with the components within the reaction wells, and releasing pressure from the reactor vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn Van Erden, Howard Turner, David Lowe
  • Methods and systems for dissolution testing
    Publication number: 20060144171
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a dissolution profile of a sample material, and for solubilization screening of a library defined by an array comprising multiple sample materials are disclosed. The methods and systems are particularly advantageous for sampling and evaluation of very small samples, and can be advantageously applied in connection with evaluation of drug candidates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Carlson, Miroslav Petro, Son Nguyen
  • Method for sampling reaction products
    Patent number: 7071000
    Abstract: A method for sampling reaction products includes delivering a reactant through a sampling probe to contact a substance deposited on a substrate and reacting the reactant to form a reaction product. At least a portion of the reaction product is withdrawn through the sampling probe and analyzed. The sampling probe is contacted with the substrate during at least a portion of the delivering, reacting and withdrawing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Youqi Wang, Peijun Cong, Tony N. Wheeler, Lynn Thomas Van Erden, H. Sam Bergh
  • Methods of making ABA-type block copolymers having a random block of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers
    Patent number: 7067586
    Abstract: Block copolymers are prepared by living-type or semi-living type free radical polymerization, with said copolymers having at least one random block comprised of at least one hydrophobic monomer and at least one hydrophilic monomer. The selection of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers in the random block is determined by the relative hydrophobicity of the monomers to impart selected solubility or dispersability in water and/or alcohols of the overall block copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingjun Liu, Damian Hajduk, Jean M. J. Frechet, Ezat Khoshdel, Ralph B. Nielsen, Dominique Charmot
  • Substituted pyridyl amine catalysts and processes for polymerizing crystalline polymers
    Publication number: 20060135722
    Abstract: New ligands, compositions, metal-ligand complexes and arrays with pyridyl-amine ligands are disclosed that catalyze the polymerization of monomers into polymers. Certain of these catalysts with hafnium metal centers have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, isobutylene or styrene. Certain of the catalysts are particularly effective at polymerizing propylene to high molecular weight isotactic polypropylene in a solution process at a variety of polymerization conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Applicant: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Boussie, Gary Diamond, Christopher Goh, Keith Hall, Anne LaPointe, Margarete Leclerc, Cheryl Lund, Vince Murphy