Multistep reactions using microreactor chemistry

Abstract

A microflow system for the investigation of multistep syntheses involving Pd-catalysed Heck reactions and Ru-catalysed ring-closing metathesis is described. A successful provision of reagent and catalyst delivery in a consecutive fashion allowed control over reaction parameters leading to fast optimisation. The performance of Heck reactions in multistep procedures was not as successful as in the single step coupling, whereas the ring-closing metathesis proved to be successful in the production of the desired compounds for further functionalisation.