Abstract

Flow Chemistry Under Non-Conventional Energy Sources

Giancarlo Cravotto, Professor, Deputy Director of the Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino

In the last three decades, organic chemists have paid much more attention to reaction kinetics and have tested various non-conventional techniques to improve the reaction outcome. The transition from batch to continuous-flow synthetic processes is one of the most important advances in the fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industries. The high complexity and functionalization of APIs usually requires many synthetic steps with workup and purification, which affects the overall yield. This communication summarizes the key technologies and energy sources to promote continuous flow chemical reactions, improving mixing, dissolution and heating, simplifying workup and downstream steps such as sonocrystallization. Excellent heat transfer is observed with dielectric and ohmic heating, while efficient mass transfer occurs with ultrasound and hydrodynamic cavitation. Ad hoc tailored reactors are required depending on the necessary energy and residence time.