Uniqsis news
Low Temperature Chemistry in Flow
27/07/2010
Metalations are typically performed at very low temperature (often -78oC) in batch with slow addition of the organometallic base in order to control the exothermic nature of such reactions.
In flow, the improved control of mixing and temperature, will often ensure that similar (or improved) reaction outcomes can be achieved more conveniently at higher temperatures.
Application Note 25 describes how FlowSyn can be used to pump organometalic bases directly from septum sealed bottles to perform a deprotonation/metalation in flow.
Pumping Organometallic Reagents using FlowSyn
27/07/2010
We are often asked if it is possible to pump solutions of organometallic bases directly from a septum sealed bottle using FlowSyn?
Yes, this is certainly possible, but we recommend that you adhere to the following guidelines:
- The organometallic should not contain precipitate. If so, it is advisable to use an in-line filter.
- All solvents should be anhydrous, and the stock bottles inerted under a N2 or Ar blanket (tubing from a low pressure gas manifold can be terminated with the ends of disposable syringes and these can be inserted directly into our recommended bottle tops). A short length of wide-bore SS tubing can be inserted directly through Sure-Seals and connected directly to the FlowSyn using standard fittings.
- The flow path should be thoroughly flushed through with an anhydrous solvent (eg THF) before any moisture sensitive or air sensitive reagents are pumped.
- We recommend that you fit a Backflush Kit (UQ-7210) to the pump heads. Salts (amongst other things!) derived from hydrolysis of organometallic reagents tend to accumulate between the high and low pressure pump seals. These should be removed periodically by either dissembling the 2 halves of the pump heads, or more conveniently, by flushing with a suitable cleaning solvent using the Backflush Kit (eg 1:1:1 [AcOH:THF:H2O] or [AcOH:THF:DMF]).
- The FlowSyn should be flushed with a cleaning solvent (1:1:1 [AcOH:THF:H2O] works well) after use, and then stored in iPrOH.
Following these recommendations should ensure that your FlowSyn performs reliably.
FlowSyn Incorporates Control of an External Chiller
07/05/2010
Uniqsis already offer a separate 'Cold Coil' reactor module that is optimised for sub-ambient chemistry. Stable low temperatures are most reliably achieved for indefinite periods by connecting the 'Cold Coil' to an external chiller unit.
Now FlowSyn offers the ability to set up experiments that control an external chiller from within the FlowSyn user interface.
Both Huber and Julabo chillers are compatible, so either individual scale-up experiments or a series of experiments all using different sub-ambient (or higher) temperatures can be performed with ease.
Please contact Uniqsis for more information.
New Pump Manifold Assembly Launched
14/04/2010
The Uniqsis FlowSyn™ flow chemistry system is now available with an upgraded pump manifold assembly that offers several key advantages to the user:
- FlowSyn can automatically monitor each high pressure reagent channel and alert the user if a pump becomes air-locked or pumps inconsistently during an experiment. When used unattended, FlowSyn will abort the experiment if the problem is not corrected rather than continue under non-steady state conditions wasting precious reagents.
- FlowSyn can be re-primed 'on the fly' without the need to cool down or de-pressurise the reactor. Resolving air-locked pumps is easy!
- FlowSyn is fitted with new sample injection valves that have been specially developed to offer high chemical resistance - even to concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids, for example.
- The injection valves and rotors have 1.0mm id channels to minimise the risk of blockages and make cleaning much easier!
Moreover, FlowSyn now benefits from a dedicated 'Prime' function that makes changing reactors and getting up and running again a walk in the park!
New Application Notes
05/02/2010
Two new Application Notes (Note 23 and Note 24) describe the accelerated synthesis, complimentary to batch microwave preparations, of commonly encountered heterocycles that can readily prepared in a scalable manner by high temperature continuous flow-through chemistry.
Reaction Time Calculator
30/11/2009
A new Applet is now available that calculates how reaction time changes with temperature. This is very useful when planning to translate existing batch chemistries to flow. Why not give it a try?
New distribution in India
13/10/2009
Uniqsis is happy to announce Septech Marketing (India) Pvt Ltd as our distribution partner in India.
Chiral building blocks 'on-demand'
29/09/2009
Professor Steven Leys group at the University of Cambridge have recently reported the 'on-demand' continuous flow synthesis of BDA tartrates. The approach utilises an inline purification to deliver products directly in high purities. BDA tartrates are useful chiral building blocks have been used in the synthesis of a range of complex natural products.
Continuous Flow Nitration
09/09/2009
Application Note 22: Flow Nitration. Nitration is a common, but potentially hazardous transformation in synthesis. Under continuous flow conditions both mixing and temperature can be well controlled leading to a selective, reproducible, and scalable outcome.
Uniqsis announce new distributors for FlowSyn
04/09/2009
Uniqsis are pleased to announce the appointment of 2 new distributors.
The FlowSyn continuous flow reactor will be distributed by Septech Marketing in India and by Praezision Technik in China.
Newman-Kwart Rearrangement in flow
31/07/2009
The Newman-Kwart rearrangement is a useful method for converting Ar-O to Ar-S bonds that can be further derivatised following basic hydrolysis of the resulting S-thiocarbamate. This high temperature reaction can be easily scaled up using the FlowSyn. Moreover, direct electrical heating in the FlowSyn permits the use of easily removed volatile solvents such as acetonitrile at temperatures above those easily achieved with microwave heating.
Uniqsis announces new distributor
27/07/2009
Uniqsis are pleased to announce that Interchim will be selling the FlowSyn in France.
Interchim specialises in combinatorial chemistry , chromatography products and biological research materials.
New FlowSyn Application Note
23/07/2009
The classical Fischer indole synthesis can be accelerated by performing the reaction at high and pressure in a continuous flow reactor.
Uniqsis Announce New Distributor
20/05/2009
Uniqsis are pleased to announce that Future Chemistry will be selling the FlowSyn in The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and the German state of North Westphalia.
Future Chemistry specialises in selling flow chemistry products and is based in the Netherlands.
Uniqsis Flow Chemistry Symposium 12th and 13th November 2009
18/02/2009
Uniqsis are happy to announce we will be holding the Uniqsis Flow Chemistry Symposium for the 3rd year at the Moller Centre, Cambridge.
Following the success of the 1st Training day, we will be holding this on 13th November in the chemistry department at University of Cambridge.
To register for this event, please download the form on the homepage.
FlowSyn Multiple Experiment package now available
19/12/2008
The FlowSyn now has an optional "Multiple Experiment Package" which consists of either a Gilson 203B or 204 Fraction collector and an enhanced FlowSyn user interface.
Users can set up 10 sequential experiments which is ideal for reaction optimisation and profiling.
FlowSyn heats up to 260?C
02/06/2008
Raising the reaction temperature achievable with the FlowSyn? Continuous Flow Reactor has considerably widened the scope of reactions that can be performed. Reactions can now be carried out at up to 260?C and pressures up to 1000psi (~70 Bar). High activation energy chemistries that might previously have required a catalyst or the use of a microwave reactor are now potential candidates for continuous flow synthesis, with its attendant benefits - better reproducibility and scalability and fewer problems with unstable intermediates or unexpected exotherms.
Mark Ladlow joins Uniqsis as Chief Scientific Officer
28/01/2008
Mark was until recently head of the GSK Cambridge Technology Laboratory based within the University of Cambridge where, in recent years, he has collaborated closely with Professor Steven Ley in developing flow chemistry as an emerging new chemistry technology. Following a period as an independent consultant developing flow chemistry applications, he now joins Uniqsis as Chief Scientific Officer.
The first fully integrated continuous flow reactor is now available on the market
04/10/2007
Uniqsis Ltd of Cambridge have 'Accessible Flow Chemistry' as their maxim, and the new FlowSyn? Continuous Flow Reactor has clearly been developed with this in mind. FlowSyn claims to be the first commercial system to fully integrate all the essential elements for continuous flow chemistry into a single, easy to use package. Flow chemistry in micro-reactors has many advantages over batch processing ? better reproducibility and scalability, improved yields and fewer problems with unstable intermediates or highly exothermic reactions.
New FlowSyn Continuous Flow Reactor will be launched on 4th October
04/10/2007
The first fully integrated continuous flow reactor which combines all essential elements in a single, easy to use package will be launched in the UK on 4th October 2007 at the 1st Uniqsis Flow Chemistry Symposium.
The conference is being established as a discussion forum between new and existing users of flow technology with workshops led by some of the most eminent pioneers in the field. Invited is a selected audience of academic and industry customers as well as the industry press.