NEW DIRECTIONS IN FLOW ELECTROSYNTHESIS

化学家具有制造新型化合物和材料的卓越能力，但合成方法的工具必须不断扩展和改进，以实现化学品的可持续生产，以满足工业日益增长的需求。反过来，工业必须满足社会的需要，因为新的或改进的药物、材料和环境友好的工艺将在许多方面提高生活质量。因此，与现有方法相比，开发具有显著上级环境和工业相关证书的新型试剂和工艺将增强有机化学对科学的贡献及其对社会的影响。我们提出了新的方法，采用流动电化学在两相有机合成。我们将提高混合能力，这将允许在合成中产生和使用不稳定的短寿命中间体。通过利用电化学中流动微反应器的合成潜力，以前不可能的反应现在变得可行。需要化学计量的试剂的方法被完全使用电力的可持续序列所取代。通过直接耦合对流动反应进行快速分析将导致快速（和计算机主导）优化整个过程的决策。我们的研究计划将通过建立新化合物灵活合成的通用协议来提高可持续性。EPSRC通过引入一系列“重大挑战”，包括Dial-a-Molecule（100%高效合成），承认了化学中更高可持续性的重要性，我们的计划正在做出贡献。

Chemists have the exceptional ability to make novel compounds and materials yet, the tools of synthetic methodology must be continuously expanded and improved for the sustainable production of chemicals to meet increasing demands from industry. Industry, in turn, must satisfy the needs from society as novel or improved medicines, materials and environmentally benign processes will increase the quality of life in many aspects. Therefore, the development of novel reagents and processes with significantly superior environmental and industry-relevant credentials over existing methods will enhance the contribution of organic chemistry to science and its impact on society. We propose novel approaches to employ flow electrochemistry in biphasic organic synthesis. We will enhance mixing capabilities which will allow the generation and use of unstable short-lived intermediates in synthesis. Previously impossible reactions could now become feasible by exploiting the synthetic potential of flow microreactors in electrochemistry. Methods requiring stoichiometric amounts of reagents are replaced by sustainable sequences using exclusively electricity. Fast analysis of flow reactions through direct coupling will lead to fast (and computer-led) decisions for optimising complete processes.Our research program will contribute to improved sustainability by establishing a general protocol for flexible syntheses of new compounds. The EPSRC has acknowledged the importance of higher sustainability in chemistry by introducing a series of 'grand challenges' including Dial-a-Molecule (100% efficient synthesis) to which our program is making a contribution.