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The two-step flow asymmetric synthesis of chiral γ-nitrobutyric acids as key intermediates of the GABA analogues baclofen, phenibut, and fluorophenibut is reported on a multigram scale. The telescoped process comprises an enantioselective Michael-type addition facilitated by a polystyrene-supported heterogeneous organocatalyst under neat conditions followed by in situ-generated performic acid-mediated aldehyde oxidation. Simple access to valuable optically active substances is provided with key advances in terms of productivity and sustainability compared to those of previous batch approaches.

The generation of highly unstable chloromethylmagnesium chloride in a continuous flow reactor and its reaction with aldehydes and ketones is reported. With this strategy, chlorohydrins and epoxides were synthesized within a total residence time of only 2.6 s. The outcome of the reaction can be tuned by simply using either a basic or an acidic quench. Very good to excellent isolated yields, up to 97%, have been obtained for most cases (30 examples).

The most challenging step in the preparation of many opioid antagonists is the selective N-demethylation of a 14-hydroxymorphinan precursor. This process is carried out on a large scale using stoichiometric amounts of hazardous chemicals like cyanogen bromide or chloroformates. We have developed a mild reagent- and catalyst-free procedure for the N-demethylation step based on the anodic oxidation of the tertiary amine. The ensuing intermediates can be readily hydrolyzed to the target nor-opioids in very good yields.

A continuous process for the on-demand generation, separation, and reaction of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) using membrane separation technology was developed. The inner tube of the reactor is manufactured from a gas-permeable, hydrophobic fluoropolymer (Teflon AF-2400) membrane. HCN is formed from aqueous reagents within the inner tube and then diffuses through the membrane into an outer tubing containing organic solvent. This technique enabled the safe handling of HCN for three different organic transformations without the need for distillation.

A scalable procedure for the direct preparation of epoxides from ketones has been developed. The method is based on the carefully controlled generation of (bromomethyl)lithium (LiCH2Br) from inexpe...

While several trifluoromethylation reactions involving the electrochemical generation of CF3 radicals via anodic oxidation have been reported, the alternative cathodic, reductive radical generation has remained elusive. Herein, the first cathodic trifluoromethylation of arenes and heteroarenes is reported. The method is based on the electrochemical reduction of an unstable triflyltriethylammonium complex generated in situ from inexpensive triflyl chloride and triethylamine, which produces CF3 radicals that are trapped by the arenes on the cathode surface.

A continuous process for the synthesis and inline separation of anhydrous trifluoromethyl diazomethane in a single continuous flow process is presented. The diazo building block is generated from the corresponding amine and NaNO2 under acidic, aqueous conditions and subsequently diffuses through a gas-permeable membrane into an organic stream. To avoid storage and transportation of the hazardous compound, a representative downstream process in a packed-bed reactor yielding highly functionalized building blocks was developed.

A continuous process for generation, separation, and reactions of anhydrous diazomethane in a tube-in-tube reactor was developed. The inner tube of the reactor is made of hydrophobic, gas-permeable Teflon AF-2400. The diazomethane is formed in the inner tube and then diffuses through the permeable membrane into the outer chamber and subsequently reacts in the solution carried within. This technique allows safe and scalable reactions with dry diazomethane to be performed on a laboratory scale.

Several important types of ozonolysis reactions have been performed in a continuous flow device that is able to perform both the ozonolysis and quenching steps in flow mode. This technique allows safe and scalable ozonolysis reactions to be performed on a laboratory scale.

[reaction: see text] The solution-phase synthesis of N3-acylated dihydropyrimidines was achieved utilizing microwave flash heating both in the synthesis (acylation) and purification (scavenging) steps. Quenching times for excess anhydrides using polystyrene or silica-supported diamine sequestration reagents were reduced from several hours to minutes utilizing microwave irradiation. The use of water as sequestration agent, coupled with an efficient solid-phase extraction workup technique allowed the rapid generation of a 20-member library of N3-acylated dihydropyrimidines.

A continuous-flow, two-step procedure for the preparation of α-CF3-substituted carbonyl compounds has been developed. The carbonyl substrates were converted in situ into the corresponding silyl enol ethers, mixed with the CF3 radical source, and then irradiated with visible light using a flow reactor based on transparent tubing and a household compact fluorescent lamp. The continuous protocol uses Eosin Y as an inexpensive photoredox catalyst and requires only 20 min to complete the two reaction steps.