For the first time, visible light mediated synthetic photochemistry has been applied in a continuous flow reactor, say scientists from Germany. Using an operationally simple photoreactor design, the team performed several Ru(bpy)32+-catalysed transformations with 10–50 fold rate enhancement over the corresponding batch methods.
Lower catalyst loadings were needed to produce the desired products in excellent yields within residence times between one and 30 minutes, while minimal waste products were formed, they claim. They add that the process is readily scalable and provides access to large quantities of product in relatively short time.
Reference:
Visible-light-mediated photochemistry: Accelerating Ru(bpy)32+-catalyzed reactions in continuous flow
F R Bou-Hamdan and P H Seeberger, Chem. Sci., 2012
DOI: 10.1039/c2sc01016j
