Raby-Buck, Sarah;
Devlin, Jonathan;
Gupta, Prachi;
Battilocchio, Claudio;
Baumann, Marcus;
Polyzos, Anastasios;
Slater, Anna G;
(2025)
Continuous Flow Chemistry for Molecular Synthesis.
Nature Reviews Methods Primers
, 5
, Article 44. 10.1038/s43586-025-00414-x.
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Abstract
Continuous flow techniques have become important tools for molecular synthesis, both in academia and across the fine chemicals industry. The success of these methods has been in part due to their interdisciplinary nature, bringing together chemists and engineers to design and construct creative solutions for the novel synthesis and scale-up of molecules, with applications in pharmaceuticals, agrochemistry, materials chemistry and crystallization. The advantages of flow chemistry include the high surface-area-to-volume ratio of narrow tubing, which improves temperature control, and the ability to scale by increasing reaction time rather than vessel volume. Further, the use of flow enables improved safety protocols, reduces waste and has the potential to telescope downstream work-up processes. Perceptions of flow chemistry as a field with a high barrier to entry remain, and these techniques have not yet become a standard option for most chemists owing to the lack of exposure in academic settings. To help reduce this barrier, this Primer introduces the field, covering the fundamental considerations of assembling a lab-scale flow experiment, using literature examples to illustrate their practical application. We conclude with an outlook for the field, highlighting opportunities for potential and existing users of the technique alike.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Continuous Flow Chemistry for Molecular Synthesis |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s43586-025-00414-x |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-025-00414-x |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > UCL School of Pharmacy UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > UCL School of Pharmacy > Pharma and Bio Chemistry |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10209275 |
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