Advantages of Flow Reactions

The new FlowSYNTH system is a continuous flow microwave reactor that represents the link between laboratory-scale reactions and industrial-scale synthetic production. This revolutionary system allows chemists to scale up reactions from grams to kilogram quantities.
What is learnt in the multimode cavity of the bench-top MicroSYNTH plus or BatchSYNTH labstations can be easily transferable to the Flow SYNTH, which uses a flow- through reaction scheme with full control over all reaction parameters, including the residence time of the chemistry in the microwave field.

Principle of operation

TThe FlowSYNTH system consists of a microwave labstation fitted with a vertical reactor. Reagents are pumped in from the bottom of the reactor, and the reaction products flow out the top into a water-cooled heat exchanger. In-line sensors allow continuous monitoring of the reaction temperature. Homogeneity of temperature along the entire length of the reactor is ensured by a unique paddle-stirrer solution homogenizer. A high-performance polymer shield and a back-pressure control valve help to ensure safe conditions in the PTFE-TFM flow-through vessel at all times.

The FlowSYNTH, as well as the MicroSYNTHplus and the BatchSYNTH systems, are controlled by an external touch-screen control terminal. Intuitive software allows the user to control everything from process conditions (temperature, pressure, etc.) to hardware operating parameters (pump speed, and safety operating limits). The user simply defines the desired temperature-vs.-time profile, and the FlowSYNTH will automatically carry out the programmed cycle, monitoring the process conditions to ensure precise, repeatable adherence to the given method.