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The past, present and potential for microfluidic reactor technology in chemical synthesis

Nature Chemistry volume 5, pages 905–915 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

The past two decades have seen far-reaching progress in the development of microfluidic systems for use in the chemical and biological sciences. Here we assess the utility of microfluidic reactor technology as a tool in chemical synthesis in both academic research and industrial applications. We highlight the successes and failures of past research in the field and provide a catalogue of chemistries performed in a microfluidic reactor. We then assess the current roadblocks hindering the widespread use of microfluidic reactors from the perspectives of both synthetic chemistry and industrial application. Finally, we set out seven challenges that we hope will inspire future research in this field.

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Figure 1: Microfluidic reactors for industrial processes.
Figure 2: Microfluidic reactors for integrated synthesis.
Figure 3: Microfluidic reactors for reaction optimization.
Figure 4: Microfluidic reactors for reaction optimization with continuous monitoring.
Figure 5: Microfluidic reactor size considerations.
Figure 6: Microfluidic reactors for intelligent synthesis.
Figure 7: Microfluidic reactors for discovery catalyst research.

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Acknowledgements

We thank I. Lignos and A. Rane for the literature research shown in Supplementary Tables S1 and S2.

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  1. Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli Strasse 10, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland

    Katherine S. Elvira, Xavier Casadevall i Solvas, Robert C. R. Wootton & Andrew J. deMello

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  1. Katherine S. Elvira
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  2. Xavier Casadevall i Solvas
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  3. Robert C. R. Wootton
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Contributions

K.S.E., R.C.R.W. and A.J.dM developed the concept, discussed the results and implications, and edited and commented on the manuscript at all stages; K.S.E., R.C.R.W, X.C.S and A.J.dM researched and wrote the manuscript and K.S.E. edited the Supplementary Information.

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Correspondence to Katherine S. Elvira or Andrew J. deMello.

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Elvira, K., i Solvas, X., Wootton, R. et al. The past, present and potential for microfluidic reactor technology in chemical synthesis. Nature Chem 5, 905–915 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1753

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