Since 2018, Merck hosts the Compound Challenge, a competition to identify the best submitted synthetic route for a given small molecule as determined by:

• number of synthesis steps
• obtained yield
• achieved purity
• feasibility of subsequent steps not performed

Anyone from around the world can register for the competition. After the registration deadline, all those registered for the challenge receive the structure of a small molecule and submit their proposed synthesis route within 96 hrs. All the submitted routes are anonymized, and all registered participants are assigned to evaluate part of these anonymized routes in a randomized manner. Based on the participants evaluation, Merck then selects the top 10 best evaluated routes to participate in the synthesis phase of the challenge. The selected routes will be tested in a wet lab and the participants with the best route, as determined by the above criteria, wins a prize of EUR 10,000.

You can submit your registration for the 4th compound challenge here until 30 April 2022.

Prizes

The 1st place winner of the 4th Merck Compound Challenge will earn a 6 month subscription to SYNTHIA at no charge for their entire chemistry department (including 2 special training sessions during this period to support students and faculty with challenging questions they may have).

The 2nd place winner of the 4th Merck Compound Challenge will earn a 3-month free subscription for their research group (not the entire department) with 1 complementary training and support session.

Who can participate?

Anyone from around the world may participate, as an individual or in a team where not prohibited by local or country law. Individuals or teams may choose to opt-out of receiving the prize money if required to do so by their organization. This challenge is not open to Health Care Professionals.

To know more about the challenge and how the application and selection process work, please visit the official page of the Merck Compound Challenge.