What is the success rate in chemical and biological labs for solving
problems? For instance given you need to synthsize 10 molecules - how
many can be successfully synthsized? Need an academic reference. Data
from either academic or corporate labs is ok

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 30 Jun 2005 15:03 PDT

The only relevant statistic I can think of that is likely to be
available is the success rate for commercial synthesis of drugs,
something like:  Out of every X hundred chemicsals tested, only one
reaches the market as a viable drug.

Are you interested in that sort of statistic?


pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by karimlakhani-ga on 30 Jun 2005 17:06 PDT

As pafalafa-ga noted: "The only relevant statistic I can think of that
is likely to be available is the success rate for commercial synthesis
of drugs,
something like:  Out of every X hundred chemicsals tested, only one
reaches the market as a viable drug."

Is not what I am looking for - I know that figure already.  Its more
like in the day to day workings of the labs how many problems can they
really solve.  Sometimes a chemcial may not be even synthsized -
regardless of its safety in human interactions.

Does that make sense?

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Clarification of Question by karimlakhani-ga on 02 Jul 2005 11:05 PDT

Myorain,

Posted the following below:
If I understand your question correctly, you are asking for a
statistic that shows that from attempts to synthesize x number of
molecules, y number were successful.

This kind of data would be *very* helpful.

Karim

Well,the power of organic synthesis is incredible. The organic
chemists has declared many years ago that with enough time and money,
they can synthesize any compound.The recent achievement in organic
synthesis,especially in total synthesis of natural products prove this
statement.
Anything can be synthesized if you don't care about the cost.

Its highly dependant on the laboratory and the resources available.  I
don't think that there is a general stat possible.  The final product
is normally easy enough (with enough money and no concerns about the
yeild), but the real challenge is the synthesis of cost-effective
intermediates.

Its kinda like asking about the number of blades of grass cut by a
lawnmower in a second.  It depends.

Getting away from the synthesis topic.  The success rate of scientific
endeavours relies heavily upon the expertise available.  I would posit
that industry has a higher success rate wholly due to their resources.
 This can be seen in academia by noting the number of publications of
large (and well-funded) academic research centres and those of small
universities.

Also, it depends on what you deem a success.

good luck,

max

If I understand your question correctly, you are asking for a
statistic that shows that from attempts to synthesize x number of
molecules, y number were successful.

This could be very interesting, but it seems to me that this would be
something the labs would keep to themselves:
1) because no one likes to reveal/admit failures;
2) especially because this would be even more detrimental to the lab's
reputation if another lab then successful synthesized the molecule.

Myoarin

Myoarin,

This is exactly the kind of statistic I am looking for - does not
neccessarily have to be about synthesis but general problem solving in
science labs.  Are there not any academic studies showing this kind of
data?

I have a data set which shows 30% success rate and I want to see how this compares?

Karim,

Thanks for the confirmation that I understood the question, but I will
have to pass on trying to answer it, sorry.
I hope someone else can help.

Myoarin