NEW DIRECTIONS IN FLOW ELECTROSYNTHESIS

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.

We propose a highly focused programme of fundamental research with the specific objective of using biphasic reaction conditions for electrochemical microreactors which leads to intense mixing and the prospect of new reactions to be carried out in flow.
Successful equipment development and evaluation of promising new reactions will bridge the gap between fundamental research and applied target syntheses to further demonstrate the versatility of the methodology. Any subsequent commercial exploitation would involve the development of a larger scale synthesis with further scale-up. Such advance is not within the scope of the proposed research program. Should a promising reaction be developed which proves to be highly useful in medium or large-scale synthesis, we will, with the help of the Research and Innovation Services Department of Cardiff University (RIS), approach one of our collaborators for establishing an industrial context for our research.

The proposed research is interdisciplinary, merging the areas of mixing, flow electrochemistry and automation / process control. Upon disclosure of our results, academic researchers within the UK and abroad working in these areas will benefit. An International Workshop on Electrochemistry will be organised in Cardiff during 2020/21, providing a direct transfer of knowledge to academic and industrial beneficiaries (academic impact). This will be established also in conjunction with the EPSRC Dial-a-Molecule Grand Challenge Network.

Several opportunities for participating in outreach and engagement activities will be explored, including the preparation of demonstration videos showing how to set up such reactions so that those unfamiliar (most synthetic chemists in both academia and industry) with the technology can have a visual tutorial, which will reduce the barrier to adoption of the technique (societal impact).