Automated Serendipity with Self-Optimizing Continuous-Flow Reactors

作者：Amara Zacharias; Streng Emilia S; Skilton Ryan A; Jin Jing; George Michael W; Poliakoff Martyn

来源：European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2015, 2015(28): 6141-6145.

DOI：10.1002/ejoc.201500980

• Self-optimization
• Flow chemistry
• Aniline
• Alkylation
• Acid-base catalysis
• Supercritical fluids

A self-optimizing approach is used as a tool for targeting known and unknown materials in the continuous reaction of aniline, dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) in supercritical CO2 on gamma-Al2O3. The study led to the formation of methylated anilines or carbamate derivatives and unusual addition products with THF including pyrrolidines and N-alkylated anilines. The identification of these products leads to the development of a plausible mechanism for the reactions. The system not only demonstrates a high flexibility that the self-optimization approach provides, including the ability to optimize for a variety of products by using a single catalyst, but also the ability to discover unexpected and original synthetic reactions.

• 出版日期2015-10
• 单位宁波诺丁汉大学