Will the next generation of chemical plants be in miniaturized flow reactors?

Abstract

For decades, a production paradgim based on centralized, stepwise, large scale processes has dominated the chemical industry horizon. While effective to meet an ever increasing demand for high value-added chemicals,...

Anionic synthesis and end-functionalization of polymyrcene in a flow microreactor system

“…In our case, this major feature prevents reactions between PMR-Li and the primary product A , and thus undesired competitive products, with high benefits for chemical selectivity toward PMYR-CO 2 H 2 . 55…”

A perspective on automated advanced continuous flow manufacturing units for the upgrading of biobased chemicals toward pharmaceuticals

“…The advantages of continuous flow production technology come with invaluable assets for the development of intensified processes, with reduced environmental impact and for the development of a decentralized production network [21,41,42]. However, a simple transposition of a batch process to continuous conditions does not guarantee better economics and sustainability metrics; it should always come with a careful reoptimization and redefinition of the chemistry and conditions to fully benefit from the assets of flow technology [23,43,44]. For instance, in 2021, Kappe and coworkers published a groundbreaking approach for the synthesis of an important Remdesivir intermediate 33, the first FDA and EMA approved drug against the late COVID-19 outburst (see Fig.…”

“…This perspective emphasizes the main challenges associated with an ambitious shift of paradigm in the pharmaceutical industry with transitioning from exclusively petrobased production schemes to increasingly biobased processes and summarizes the main assets of automated continuous flow production schemes for tackling these challenges [20][21][22][23].…”

Photocatalyzed (3+2) Cycloaddition for the Dearomatization of Electron‐Poor Arenes under Flow Conditions

“…[25] Moreover, flow systems offer the possibility to handle and treat large volumes of chemicals -even hazardouswith reduced exposition of the operator. [26][27][28] In this context, we recently showed that the reactive electron-poor indoles underwent smooth acid-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition under flow conditions (Scheme 1c). [13] Herein, we report that the photocatalyzed dearomatization of structurally diverse electronpoor arenes, including the challenging benzenic derivatives, occurs by (3 + 2) cycloaddition under friendly flow conditions within less than 1 h, at room temperature (Scheme 1d).…”

“…Not only the downsizing of the reactor brings an obvious decisive advantage for light absorption, but the operation in continuous flow may allow easier scale‐up than under batch conditions, with significant gain in time, energy and reduction of effluents [25] . Moreover, flow systems offer the possibility to handle and treat large volumes of chemicals ‐even hazardous‐ with reduced exposition of the operator [26–28] . In this context, we recently showed that the reactive electron‐poor indoles underwent smooth acid‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition under flow conditions (Scheme 1c) [13] .…”