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🧪 labmate-mcp

Your AI lab companion — from literature search to benchwork to publication.

PyPI version Downloads Python License

81 tools  ·  25+ scientific APIs  ·  202 named reactions  ·  zero config required

Quick Start ↓   •   What Can I Do?   •   All 81 Tools   •   Configuration   •   Examples


labmate-mcp is an MCP server that connects Claude to scientific databases, computational chemistry tools, bench references, and writing utilities. One install covers the entire research workflow.

🚀 Quick Start

pip install labmate-mcp

Then add this to your Claude config:

On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json On Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "labmate": {
      "command": "labmate-mcp"
    }
  }
}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "labmate": {
      "command": "labmate-mcp"
    }
  }
}
docker build -t labmate-mcp .
docker run -it labmate-mcp

Restart Claude. 61 of 81 tools work out of the box — no API keys needed.

TIP

Want retrosynthesis, pKa prediction, or NMR shifts? Runlabmate-mcp --setup to add free API keys.


💬 What Can I Do With This?

Just talk to Claude naturally:

"Find the most cited papers on copper-catalyzed C–H activation from the last 5 years"

Searches across multiple databases, ranks by citations, and gives you abstracts and AI-generated summaries.

"Suzuki coupling, 150 mg aryl bromide (MW 261), 5 mol% Pd(PPh₃)₄, 1.3 eq boronic acid, 2.5 eq K₂CO₃ — how much of everything?"

Calculates exact masses for each reagent with your substrate as the limiting reagent.

"I'm developing a new reaction. What should I be thinking about?"

Walks you through a structured reaction development checklist — covering everything from initial mechanistic hypotheses to scope exploration and scale-up.

"I need to protect a primary amine — stable to acid, cleavable by hydrogenation"

Compares protecting groups against a stability matrix and suggests the best match (here: Cbz).

"Format these DOIs as an ACS bibliography, then give me an experimental template for a Buchwald–Hartwig"

Generates a numbered reference list and a fill-in-the-blank procedure with suggested workup and safety notes.

Ask Claude…

What happens

"What are the NMR solvent peaks for DMSO-d₆?"

Residual ¹H: 2.50 ppm (quintet), ¹³C: 39.52 ppm, water: 3.33 ppm

"Generate 20 cyclic pentapeptides with some D-amino acids"

Returns SMILES with MW, logP, and TPSA for each

"I want to submit to JACS — what do I need to know?"

Word limits, abstract length, citation format, graphical abstract specs

"Retrosynthesis of ibuprofen"

Multi-step route back to commercial starting materials

"pKa of 4-nitrophenol?"

Quantum-chemistry prediction via Rowan Science

"Cooling bath for −42 °C?"

MeCN / dry ice, or chlorobenzene / dry ice


🔧 Tool Reference

📚 Literature & Discovery — 15 tools

Search papers across multiple databases, explore citation graphs, find open access PDFs, and track research trends.

Tool

Source

What it does

search_papers

Crossref + OpenAlex + S2

Multi-source paper search with metadata fusion

get_paper_details

Crossref + OpenAlex + S2

Full metadata: abstract, authors, citations, references

find_similar_papers

Semantic Scholar

Content-based paper recommendations

get_paper_citations

Semantic Scholar

Forward citation graph + context snippets

get_paper_references

Semantic Scholar

Backward citation graph (bibliography)

get_author_profile

OpenAlex + S2

h-index, publications, co-authors, topics

analyze_research_topic

OpenAlex

Publication volume trends over time

find_open_access_pdf

Unpaywall

Legal open access PDF URLs

search_chemrxiv

Crossref + OpenAlex

Chemistry preprint search

get_chemrxiv_categories

List ChemRxiv subject categories

search_web_of_science

Web of Science

WoS search (requires API key)

generate_bibtex

Crossref

DOI → BibTeX (single or batch)

get_journal_metrics

OpenAlex

Impact metrics, open access %, policy

search_protein_structures

RCSB PDB

Search PDB by keyword, organism, method

get_protein_structure

RCSB PDB

Full PDB entry: resolution, ligands, sequence

🔬 Compound Data & Safety — 12 tools

Look up any compound by name, SMILES, or formula. Get safety data, binding affinities, crystal structures, and more.

Tool

Source

What it does

search_compound

PubChem

Name/SMILES/formula → compound data

get_compound_properties

PubChem

MW, SMILES, InChI, formula, XLogP, TPSA

profile_compound

Multiple

Comprehensive profile combining several databases

get_safety_data

PubChem GHS

GHS pictograms, H-statements, P-statements

translate_compound_ids

UniChem

Convert PubChem ↔ ChEMBL ↔ DrugBank ↔ ChEBI

search_crystal_structures

COD

Crystallography Open Database search

search_materials_project

Materials Project

Band gaps, formation energies (requires key)

search_nist_webbook

NIST

ΔHf, Cp, phase transitions, IR spectra

search_mass_spectra

MassBank

Mass spectrum search by exact mass or name

search_binding_data

BindingDB

IC₅₀, Ki, Kd binding affinities

search_toxicity

EPA CompTox

Toxicity endpoints (requires key)

classify_natural_product

GNPS

NP superclass / class / pathway

⚗️ Computational Chemistry — 11 tools

AI-powered retrosynthesis, forward reaction prediction, pKa, solubility, ADMET, and NMR shift prediction.

Tool

Source

What it does

predict_retrosynthesis

IBM RXN

Multi-step retrosynthetic analysis

plan_synthesis

IBM RXN

Forward synthesis route planning

predict_product

IBM RXN

Predict products from reactants + reagents

predict_atom_mapping

IBM RXN

Atom-by-atom mapping for mechanisms

text_to_procedure

IBM RXN

Natural language → structured procedure

predict_pka

Rowan Science

pKa values (any functional group, aqueous)

predict_solubility

Rowan Science

Aqueous solubility prediction

predict_admet

Rowan Science

Absorption, metabolism, toxicity prediction

search_tautomers

Rowan Science

Enumerate tautomeric forms

compute_descriptors

Rowan Science

Molecular descriptors from SMILES

predict_nmr

Rowan Science

¹H and ¹³C chemical shift prediction

IBM RXN and Rowan tools require free API keys. See Configuration.

🧬 Peptide Chemistry — 10 tools

Sequence-to-SMILES conversion with 450+ amino acids, cyclization, library generation, pI calculation, and MS/MS interpretation.

Tool

Source

What it does

peptide_to_smiles

p2smi

Sequence → SMILES (450+ AAs, 5 cyclization types)

peptide_cyclization_options

p2smi

Which cyclizations does a sequence support?

generate_peptide_library

p2smi

Random peptide generation with NCAAs, D-stereo

peptide_properties

p2smi + RDKit

MW, logP, TPSA, HBD/HBA, Lipinski

check_peptide_synthesis

p2smi

SPPS feasibility: difficult motifs, aggregation

modify_peptide

p2smi

Apply N-methylation, PEGylation

calculate_peptide_pi

pichemist

Isoelectric point (8 pKa reference sets)

calculate_peptide_extinction

pep-calc.com

ε₂₈₀ (Trp/Tyr/Cys contributions)

get_peptide_ion_series

pep-calc.com

b/y/a/c/z ion ladders for MS/MS

assign_peptide_ms_peaks

pep-calc.com

Match m/z values to fragments

🧪 Bench Chemistry — 18 tools

Everyday lab calculators and a reference library covering named reactions, protecting groups, solvents, workup protocols, and more.

Tool

What it does

calculate_molarity

Solve for any unknown: mass, moles, volume, or MW

calculate_dilution

C₁V₁ = C₂V₂ with automatic unit handling

calculate_reaction_mass

Multi-reagent mass calc from equivalents

calculate_yield

Percent yield from actual / theoretical

calculate_concentration

M ↔ mM ↔ mg/mL ↔ %w/v ↔ ppm ↔ ppb

Tool

Coverage

lookup_named_reaction

202 named reactions — conditions, mechanism, scope, limitations

lookup_rxn_dev_checklist

Structured checklist for reaction development —

lookup_protecting_group

30 PGs for OH, NH, C=O, COOH with stability / lability matrix

lookup_workup_procedure

Step-by-step protocols: LAH quench, aqueous extraction, etc.

lookup_solvent_properties

32 solvents — bp, density, polarity index, dielectric, miscibility

lookup_cooling_bath

24 recipes from −196 °C (lN₂) to +100 °C

lookup_tlc_stain

13 stains organized by functional group selectivity

lookup_column_chromatography

Solvent selection, Rf rules, loading, troubleshooting

lookup_buffer_recipe

20+ buffers — PBS, Tris, HEPES, TAE, TBE, RIPA, citrate…

lookup_amino_acid_properties

20 canonical AAs — MW, pKa, pI, hydropathy

lookup_nmr_solvent

12 solvents — residual ¹H/¹³C shifts, water peak, multiplicity

lookup_lab_tips

35 practical tips across 9 categories

lookup_safety_card

9 safety cards for hazardous reagents (n-BuLi, NaH, LAH…)

🔧 Chemistry Utilities — 5 tools

Tool

What it does

calculate_isotope_pattern

Isotope distribution from formula/SMILES (Cl, Br, S patterns)

validate_cas_number

CAS registry check-digit validation

convert_units

Mass, volume, energy, pressure, temperature, length, amount

lookup_periodic_table

Z, mass, electron config, electronegativity, radius, group

calculate_buffer_ph

Henderson-Hasselbalch solver with built-in pKa database

✍️ Writing & Publication — 10 tools

Format citations, build bibliographies, generate experimental section templates, check journal requirements, and prepare your SI — all from within Claude.

Tool

Source

What it does

format_citation

Crossref

DOI → formatted reference in 20+ styles (ACS, RSC, Nature, Angew, APA…)

build_bibliography

Crossref

Batch DOIs → numbered, styled reference list

lookup_iupac_name

PubChem

SMILES → IUPAC systematic name

name_to_smiles

PubChem

Common name → SMILES + InChI + InChIKey + MW

format_molecular_formula

Local

C6H12O6 → C₆H₁₂O₆ (Unicode) / \ce{C6H12O6} (LaTeX) / <sub> (HTML)

lookup_experimental_template

Local

18 reaction templates with fill-in fields and safety notes

lookup_journal_guide

Local

Submission requirements for 12 top chemistry journals

generate_si_checklist

Local

SI checklist tailored to compound type

lookup_abbreviation

Local

193 standard abbreviations (solvents, reagents, spectroscopy)

get_thesis_guide

Local

Section-by-section writing guide: abstract → SI


📖 Examples

Literature workflow

You:    "Find the 5 most cited papers on photoredox catalysis from 2020–2024"
Claude: [returns papers ranked by citations with abstracts and TLDRs]

You:    "Who cited paper #2? What topics did they focus on?"
Claude: [shows forward citation graph with context snippets]

You:    "Is there a free PDF for paper #3?"
Claude: [finds a legal open access link via Unpaywall]

You:    "Generate BibTeX for all 5"
Claude: [outputs formatted BibTeX entries]

Synthesis planning

You:    "I want to make 4-methoxybiphenyl from 4-bromoanisole"
Claude: [suggests Suzuki coupling, gives conditions and literature precedent]

You:    "Calculate amounts for a 200 mg scale, 5 mol% catalyst"
Claude: [returns exact mg for every reagent and solvent volume]

You:    "What's a good workup?"
Claude: [aqueous workup protocol with solvent, drying agent, and column conditions]

Reaction development

You:    "I have a new C–H activation — how do I figure out the mechanism?"
Claude: [suggests KIE, radical clocks, Hammett, Stern–Volmer, and computational approaches]

You:    "Walk me through optimisation"
Claude: [covers DoE vs one-variable-at-a-time, green metrics, solvent screening]

You:    "How do I prove this is catalytic, not stoichiometric?"
Claude: [mercury drop test, hot filtration, TON benchmarks, nonlinear effects]

Writing a paper

You:    "Format these 12 DOIs as an ACS bibliography"
Claude: [numbered reference list in ACS style]

You:    "Give me an experimental template for a Sonogashira"
Claude: [fill-in-the-blank procedure with safety notes]

You:    "What SI do I need for a small molecule paper?"
Claude: [checklist with ¹H/¹³C NMR, HRMS, mp, HPLC, formatting tips]

You:    "I'm submitting to Angew — what are the requirements?"
Claude: [word limits, abstract format, citation style, graphical abstract specs]

⚙️ Configuration

The easiest way to add API keys:

labmate-mcp --setup

This walks you through each key and saves them to ~/.labmate-mcp.env. They're loaded automatically whenever you use labmate.

All keys are optional. 61 of 81 tools work without any configuration.

Variable

Service

Free?

What it unlocks

RXN_API_KEY

IBM RXN

Retrosynthesis, product prediction, atom mapping

ROWAN_API_KEY

Rowan Science

pKa, solubility, ADMET, tautomers, NMR prediction

SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY

Semantic Scholar

Higher rate limits for citations & recommendations

UNPAYWALL_EMAIL

Unpaywall

Open access PDF discovery

MATERIALS_PROJECT_API_KEY

Materials Project

Crystal structures, band gaps, formation energies

WOS_API_KEY

Web of Science

🏛️

Web of Science search (institutional)

COMPTOX_API_KEY

EPA CompTox

Toxicity & environmental data

Aliases: S2_API_KEY, MP_API_KEY, RXN4CHEMISTRY_API_KEY also work.

If you prefer to configure keys manually, add them to your Claude config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "labmate": {
      "command": "labmate-mcp",
      "env": {
        "RXN_API_KEY": "your-rxn-key",
        "ROWAN_API_KEY": "your-rowan-key",
        "UNPAYWALL_EMAIL": "you@university.edu"
      }
    }
  }
}

Or create ~/.labmate-mcp.env directly:

RXN_API_KEY=your-rxn-key
ROWAN_API_KEY=your-rowan-key

🗄️ Built-in Databases

Everything below ships with labmate — no API calls, no internet required.

Database

Entries

What's inside

⚗️

Named reactions

202

Conditions, mechanism type, scope, limitations

📋

Rxn dev checklist

30 questions

Kinetics, mechanism, DoE, catalysis, scope, scale-up

🛡️

Protecting groups

30

OH / NH / C=O / COOH, stability matrix

🧴

Solvents

32

bp, density, polarity index, dielectric, miscibility

❄️

Cooling baths

24

Recipes from −196 °C to +100 °C

🎨

TLC stains

13

Selectivity by functional group, recipe, procedure

🧫

Buffer recipes

20+

Preparation at specific pH, temperature correction

🧬

Amino acids

20

pKa, pI, MW, hydropathy, special notes

📻

NMR solvents

12

Residual ¹H, ¹³C, water peak, multiplicity

📝

Experimental templates

18

Fill-in-the-blank for common reaction types

📰

Journal guides

12

JACS, Angew, Nature Chem, JOC, Org Lett…

🔤

Abbreviations

193

Standard abbreviations across 7 categories

💡

Lab tips

35

Practical tips in 9 categories

☣️

Safety cards

9

Hazardous reagent protocols

📄

SI requirements

18

Per-technique formatting and common mistakes

🎓

Thesis writing

6

Section-by-section guidance

Alder-Ene · Aldol · Appel · Arbuzov · Arndt-Eistert · Baeyer-Villiger · Balz-Schiemann · Bamford-Stevens · Barton Decarboxylation · Barton-McCombie · Baylis-Hillman · Beckmann · Biginelli · Birch · Bischler-Napieralski · Blanc Chloromethylation · Bouveault-Blanc · Brown Hydroboration · Buchner Ring Expansion · Buchwald-Hartwig (C–N) · Buchwald-Hartwig (C–O) · Burgess Dehydration · Cadiot-Chodkiewicz · Cannizzaro · Carroll · Catellani · CBS · Chan-Lam · Chichibabin · Claisen Condensation · Claisen Rearrangement · Clemmensen · Click (CuAAC) · Comins · Cope Elimination · Cope Rearrangement · Corey-Bakshi-Shibata · Corey-Chaykovsky · Corey-Fuchs · Corey-Kim · Corey-Nicolaou · Corey-Winter · Cross-Metathesis · Curtius · Dakin · Darzens · Dess-Martin · Dieckmann · Diels-Alder · Doering-LaFlamme · Enders SAMP/RAMP · Eschenmoser-Claisen · Eschenmoser-Tanabe Fragmentation · Eschweiler-Clarke · Evans Aldol · Favorskii · Ferrier · Finkelstein · Fischer Esterification · Fischer Indole · Fleming-Tamao · Friedel-Crafts Acylation · Friedel-Crafts Alkylation · Fries · Fukuyama · Gabriel · Gewald · Glaser · Grignard · Grubbs Metathesis · Hantzsch Pyridine · Heck · Henry · Hiyama · Hiyama-Denmark · Hofmann · Horner · Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons · IBX · Ireland-Claisen · Jacobsen Epoxidation · Jones · Julia-Lythgoe · Kharasch · Knoevenagel · Knorr Pyrrole · Koenigs-Knorr · Kolbe · Kulinkovich · Kumada · Lawesson · Lemieux-Johnson · Ley · Liebeskind-Srogl · Lossen · Luche · Malaprade · Mander Methylenation · Mannich · Matteson · Meerwein Arylation · Meerwein Reduction · Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley · Meinwald · Michael · Midland · Minisci · Mitsunobu · Modified Julia · Mukaiyama Aldol · Myers · Negishi · Noyori · Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi · Ohira-Bestmann · Olefin Metathesis · Oppenauer · Oppolzer Sultam · Overman · Oxy-Cope · Ozonolysis · Paal-Knorr · Parikh-Doering · Passerini · Paternò-Büchi · Pauson-Khand · Petasis · Peterson · Pfitzner-Moffatt · Piancatelli · Pictet-Spengler · Pinner · Pinnick · Polonovski · Prevost · Prins · Ramberg-Bäcklund · Reductive Amination · Reformatsky · Rieche · Riley · Ring-Closing Metathesis · Ritter · Robinson Annulation · Roskamp · Roush · Rubottom · Saegusa-Ito · Sakurai-Hosomi · Sandmeyer · Schmidt · Shapiro · Sharpless AD · Sharpless AE · Shi Epoxidation · Shiina · Simmons-Smith · Skraup · Sonogashira · Staudinger Ligation · Staudinger Reduction · Steglich · Stetter · Still-Gennari · Stille · Stork Enamine · Strecker · Suzuki · Suzuki-Miyaura · Swern · Takai · Tebbe · TEMPO · Tiffeneau-Demjanov · Transfer Hydrogenation · Trost AAA · Tsuji-Trost · Ugi · Ullmann · Upjohn · Van Leusen · Vilsmeier-Haack · Wacker · Weinreb Amide · Wharton · Williamson · Wittig · Wittig Rearrangement · Wohl-Ziegler · Wolff · Wolff-Kishner · Yamaguchi · Zincke Aldehyde

Based on Kerr, Jenkinson, Sheridan & Sparr, "Reaction Development: A Student's Checklist", Chem. Soc. Rev. 2025, DOI: 10.1039/D4CS01046A. Each section contains guiding questions, specific checks to perform, and practical tips.

Section

Questions

🔍 Take Stock

5

📈 Kinetics & Thermodynamics

6

⚙️ Mechanism

4

📊 Optimisation

3

🔄 Catalysis

4

🎯 Scope

3

🚀 Applications

5

Total

30


🏗️ Architecture

labmate_mcp/
├── server.py       5,248 lines   81 MCP tool definitions + response formatting
├── bench.py        4,714 lines   Calculators + reference databases
├── apis.py         1,744 lines   HTTP clients for 25+ scientific APIs
├── writing.py      1,488 lines   Citations, templates, journal guides, SI, thesis
├── chemistry.py      572 lines   Isotope patterns, CAS, units, periodic table, pH
├── peptide.py        384 lines   p2smi + pichemist + pep-calc.com integration
└── __init__.py         4 lines   Version
                  ──────────────
                  14,154 lines

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! See CONTRIBUTING.md for details.

High-impact areas: more named reactions, more experimental templates, more journal guides, tests, and bug reports.


📄 License

MIT — use freely in academia and industry.


📚 Cite

If labmate-mcp is useful in your research, please cite the tools it builds on:

Made with 🧪 for chemists who'd rather be in the lab than Googling.

A
license - permissive license
-
quality - not tested
C
maintenance

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