Polymer Networks as Carrier for Organo Catalysts within Continuously Driven Microfluidic Reactor Systems

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Dirk Kuckling
• Subject Area: Polymer Materials ; Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 463498885

The present proposal describes the combination of the concepts of Organo Catalysis with continuously driven Micro Plug Flow Reactors (MPFR). Current research focused mostly on massive poly(styrene) particles as carriers for organo catalysts. These particles are typically used in packed bed reactors enabling the catalysis on the surface of the particles. However, at the same time there exists a large not usable volume within the particles. The novel approach in this proposal is the immobilization of the organo catalysts within a swellable polymer network to avoid the usage of massive particles. In contrast to published work the immobilization within a gel will increase the accessibility of the catalytically active center inside the three-dimensional structure having a positive effect on reactivity as well as selectivity. Hence, the combination of MPFR with organo catalysts immobilized inside swollen polymer networks offers an enormous potential for the optimization of organic reactions due to the efficiency increase of the catalyst accessibility. The combination of polymer networks with organo catalysis further offers the opportunity to continuously drive diverse organic reaction of high preparative benefit (like Aldol reactions, Knoevenagel reaction and reductive dimerizations). This also creates an interesting perspective for screening processes of substance libraries. Finally, the preparation methods for gels are very well compatible with the needs for the set-up of microfluidic reactors.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr.-Ing. Andreas Richter