Flow Chemistry Platform with a Photochemical Reactor for Applications in Organic Chemistry and Materials Science

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Various companies worldwide, notably in the pharmaceutical/agrochemical, are currently investing money and efforts in order to move from the standard chemical approach (batch process) to a continuous flow approach. Flow processes allow for safer, faster and more economical approaches to synthesis and is in perfect harmony with a "green" chemistry philosophy. It is therefore essential not only to adapt existing reactions, but also simultaneously develop new processes for this approach. Unfortunately, without the adequate equipment, it will not be possible for researchers to adapt their research to the new reality of the industry. The acquisition of a flow chemistry platform with a photochemical reactor would allow the various groups to develop multiple applications in organic chemistry and material sciences. For instance, in organic chemistry, flow chemistry would be applied to green chemistry and catalysis (T. Ollevier), synthesis of fluorinated compounds (J.-F. Paquin), regio- and stereocontrolled assemblage of densely functionalized structures (J. Boukouvalas), and transition metal-free catalytic processes (F.-G. Fontaine). The local access to such instrument actually prevents all these groups to adapt their chemistry and/or further developed new transformations using the continuous flow approach. In materials science, our ability to conduct state-of-the-art research programs strongly depends on our materials output. In fact, large amounts need to be prepared as complete characterization and testing are material-consuming processes. Hence, a lack of access to such instrument significantly harms materials-oriented research groups in our faculty in their chance to produce significant amount of results that could be published in high-impact journals. For instance, the students of J.-F. Morin and M. Leclerc need to provide several research groups with materials in order to get excellent and reliable results. Even if the amount of material that can be produced and the time saved by flow systems is important compared to batch chemistry, the optimization of reaction conditions for the process can be time consuming. One needs to prepare the reagents, set-up the apparatus and determine the right flow rate for optimal yield and conversion. It is logical to think that one student looking at a specific transformation will need to work with the system several consecutive hours/days. Since there are more than 60 researchers who will be using the flow system, we expect that it will be used continuously. Overall, the requested instrument will have a huge influence in terms of scientific quality and production, but also in terms of HQP training. It would also allow the Department of Chemistry at Université Laval to assume a leadership role in the use of this emerging and powerful technique.