Abstract

Flow Chemistry: A Useful Method for Performing Hazardous Exothermic Chemistry in a Safer Manner

Heather Graehl, Director of Sales North America, ThalesNano

Nitration, ozonolysis, and lithiation are three examples of highly exothermic reactions which require extensive cooling to remove excess heat that may be detrimental to the outcome of the reactions with respect to safety as well as the potential rapid decomposition of the reactive intermediates leading to side-reactions. Flow reactors offer several abilities over batch methodology that make high energy processes safer to perform. Only a small amount of compound is ever reacted at one time and the reaction mixture is in contact with a large surface area that facilitates the dissipation of heat efficiently and rapidly. At ThalesNano we have investigated performing several highly exothermic chemistries in flow in order to demonstrate the improved safety of such a methodology. The presentation will feature a description of the flow reactor followed by chemistry examples of nitration, hydrogenation of multiple nitro group containing molecules, ozonolysis and quenching of ozonolysis using hydrogenation, azo coupling, and swern oxidation.