Illuminating ‘the ugly side of science’: fresh incentives for reporting negative results

We report an automated strategy to conduct RAFT copolymerizations using a Chemspeed robotic platform capable of executing batch, incremental, and continuous monomer addition workflows under inert conditions. Copolymerizations of oligo(ethylene glycol) acrylate with benzyl acrylate (as a control) and fluorescein o-acrylate were conducted in toluene, THF, and DMF, with reaction progress monitored via ¹H NMR spectroscopy at defined intervals.

Photocatalysis enables valuable reactions such as synthetic transformations or energy conversion processes like water splitting. To rationally improve photocatalytic reactions, mechanistic insights are required. These can be obtained with kinetic measurements, which are, however, difficult to obtain for a large enough number of reaction conditions to provide systematic and valuable insights.