Abstract

Organic Synthesis Enabled by Catalytic Flow Methods

Shu Kobayashi, Professor, The University of Tokyo

In synthesis, flow methods have several advantages over batch methods in terms of environmental compatibility, efficiency, and safety. Wastes derived from work-up processes can be minimized or omitted altogether by performing organic transformations in flow. Equipment for chemical manufacturing can be designed to be smaller, which would enable significant savings in space and costs. In addition, the differences between batch and flow reactors, which are the large surface to volume ratios and the rapid mixing/quenching of reagents, should make chemical productions safer and more efficient. While continuous-flow practices have been adopted in the petrochemical and bulk chemical industries, its applications in fine chemical production have been limited. It was believed that synthesis by flow methods could be applicable for the production of simple gasses such as ammonia, but was difficult to apply to the preparation of complex molecules such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This lecture will discuss recent advances in organic synthesis enabled by continuous-flow methods. In particular, the development of heterogeneous catalysts in multi-step continuous-flow reactions (sequential flow reactions) for the synthesis of complex organic molecules will be highlighted.