Complex Droplet Microreactor for Highly Efficient and Controllable Esterification and Cascade Reactions.

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Reaction Engineering

Background:

• Multiphase reactions often face challenges in efficiency and control.
• Existing microreactors, like single emulsions, have limitations in conversion rates and require harsh conditions.
• Water-labile reactions demand specialized microreactor designs for optimal performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly efficient complex emulsion microreactor for multiphasic water-labile reactions.
• To demonstrate superior atom economy and spatiotemporal control over reaction kinetics.
• To investigate the impact of droplet morphology on reaction efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of complex emulsions (hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon in aqueous phase) with controlled droplet morphologies.
• Utilizing a biphasic esterification reaction (2-bromo-1,2-diphenylethane-1-ol and perfluoro-heptanoic acid) as a model.
• Investigating reaction kinetics and conversion rates under varying droplet morphologies (e.g., F/H/W double, (F+H)/W Janus).

Main Results:

• Achieved up to 100% conversion in esterification under mild conditions without agitation.
• Demonstrated significantly higher efficiency compared to reported single emulsion microreactors (84-95%).
• Showcased over a 3.5-fold regulation of conversion rate by manipulating droplet size and topology.
• Successfully implemented a triple-phasic cascade reaction (addition-esterification) with controlled kinetics.

Conclusions:

• The developed complex emulsion microreactor is a powerful platform for efficient multiphasic water-labile reactions.
• Droplet morphology offers a tunable parameter for precise control over reaction kinetics.
• The system provides a versatile and effective approach for advanced chemical synthesis, including cascade reactions.