Bruker AXS has launched its compact SMART X2S (Crystal-to-Structure), the first benchtop X-ray crystallography system for fully automated three-dimensional (3D) chemical structure determination
The system is designed for use by chemists who have no special training in crystallography and it is expected to appeal to many inorganic and organic chemists at colleges and universities, as well as in bio-pharma and chemical companies.
Traditional X-ray systems for 3D structure determination are floor standing, require significant infrastructure and typically are installed in specialist X-ray crystallography centers.
While molecular structure information is of tremendous benefit for chemists, the traditional need for trained crystallographers has made access to structural information inconvenient or expensive for many working chemists.
Often they need to send samples away to an off-site crystallography service laboratory and wait days for the results, or they simply forego structural confirmation at certain stages of their research.
The SMART X2S for the first time allows inorganic and organic chemists to produce atomic resolution, 3D structures of routine samples in their own laboratories quickly and easily at the touch of a button.
The SMART X2S takes small molecule structure determination to the next level of convenience by automating the previously difficult aspects of X-ray structure determination, from sample loading and alignment through data collection all the way to the mathematical structure solution.
Weighing less than 70kg and requiring only 0.5kW of standard single-phase AC power, the benchtop SMART X2S can be installed easily in any academic or industrial chemistry laboratory.
The instrument is also the most affordable crystallographic system available.
The system is intended to be operated by chemists without the requirement for expert crystallographic training, and is suitable for a wide range of inorganic, organic and organometallic crystals.
Dr Charles Campana, senior scientist for structural chemistry at Bruker AXS, stated: "It has long been a dream to automate the process of X-ray small molecule structure determination, so that it can become a powerful, yet routine analytical tool in the hands of most chemists.
"Now, advances in technology, automation and algorithms have finally made this possible.
"The SMART X2S system allows chemists to do routine, publication quality crystal structures in only a few hours without specialised crystallography expertise".
Professor Arnold Rheingold of the University of California at San Diego's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, commented: "The Bruker SMART X2S is very exciting.
"With its introduction, crystallography finally becomes a routine characterization tool for all chemists, joining NMR and FTIR as a front-line, every day method.
"The X2S is also ideal for teaching structural chemistry.
"The lack of affordable, easy to use X-ray instrumentation has prevented crystallography from being included in the undergraduate curriculum.
"With the X2S, all college students can experience first hand the joys and rewards of structural determinations".
Professor Rheingold's research explores ways of using X-ray crystallography to provide very rapid and accurate structural characterizations of new compounds in collaboration with several hundred chemists worldwide.
