Each week the Royal Society of Chemistry highlights cutting-edge research from Chemical Science as ChemSci Pick of the Week. The paper titled “A field guide to flow chemistry for synthetic organic chemists” offers a concise introduction to flow chemistry for synthetic organic chemists. It highlights how microreactor technology can be utilized to push the boundaries in organic synthesis and unlock unique reactivity and selectivity. By providing insights into the governing principles behind these trends, the authors aim to offer a useful resource for researchers interested in exploring the potential of flow chemistry.

Abstract

Flow chemistry has unlocked a world of possibilities for the synthetic community, but the idea that it is a mysterious "black box" needs to go. In this review, we show that several of the benefits of microreactor technology can be exploited to push the boundaries in organic synthesis and to unleash unique reactivity and selectivity. By “lifting the veil” on some of the governing principles behind the observed trends, we hope that this review will serve as a useful field guide for those interested in diving into flow chemistry.

Paper details

T. Noel, L. Capaldo and Z. Wen: A field guide to flow chemistry for synthetic organic chemists, Chem. Sci., 2023, Advanced article. DOI: 10.1039/D3SC00992K The article is free to read.

See also

• 2023 collection Chem Sci Pick of the Week papers
• Royal Society of Chemistry
• Research group Flow Chemistry: Noël Research Group