Organocatalysis meets chip MS: By integrating asymmetric organocatalysis and analysis on a chip (see picture), optimization of reactions can be achieved with minimal consumption of resources in a short period of time.

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High-throughput screening for optimal reaction conditions and the search for efficient catalysts is of eminent importance in the development of chemical processes and for expanding the spectrum of synthetic methodologies in chemistry. In this context we report a novel approach for a microfluidic chemical laboratory integrating organic synthesis, separation and time-resolved fluorescence detection on a single microchip. The feasibility of our integrated laboratory is demonstrated by monitoring the formation of tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives by Pictet-Spengler condensation. After on-chip reaction the products and residual starting material were separated enantioselectively on the same chip. On-chip deep UV laser-induced fluorescence detection with time-correlated single photon counting was applied for compound assignment. The system was utilized to screen reaction conditions and various substrates for Pictet-Spengler reactions on-chip. Finally, the microlab was successfully applied to investigate enantioselective reactions using BINOL-based phosphoric acids as organocatalysts.

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On the basis of a representative paper and pencil survey with office based psychiatrists, neurologists, psychiatric out-patient clinics and psychiatric wards/hospitals it is shown that in Germany in 1997 about 136,000 adult patients with diagnosed schizophrenia (F20 according to ICD 10) are attended by specialists. 75.4% of these patients are in attention of office based specialists, and 21.3% are attended by out-patient clinics. According to the details of psychiatric wards and hospitals, 3.3% of the patients are under long term (> 1 year) medical attention at hospitals. The amount of schizophrenia patients being under attention of specialists corresponds to 0.21% of the German population > 18 years. For patients who receive out-patient treatment it is shown that they are under medical attention at hospitals for average 22 days per year, and for 3.4 days they are under medical attention at rehabilitation centers.