Cascade Reactions

Cascade Reactions

© Fraunhofer IMM

Synthesis of fine chemicals using cascade reactions

Technology and process development

© Fraunhofer IMM

Continuous synthesis of fine chemicals

Do you want to significantly optimize your production costs for the synthesis of fine chemicals and their purity at the same time? Are you looking for an innovative technology that enables synthesis processes based on the principles of Green Chemistry?

We can offer you the right solution!

 

Cascade reactions

Technology and process development for the continuous synthesis of fine chemicals using hybrid catalysts

Fine chemicals are an essential element in the chemical industry, which serves the pharmaceutical and agrochemical markets. The chemical synthesis of fine chemicals usually goes through several catalyst-supported stages, which are currently still carried out in batch processes and in which the catalyst is homogeneously distributed in the reaction mixture. These syntheses therefore require long changeover times as well as complex process controls and purification steps in order to achieve the desired product purity, particularly for pharmaceutical applications.

Four Fraunhofer Institutes are working together in the field of cascade reactions on new production/process technologies and materials that will make the synthesis of fine chemicals simpler, faster, cheaper and more sustainable in the future. A modular technology and process platform is being developed that enables the targeted synthesis of fine chemicals through continuous catalytic cascade reactions. The platform has four central elements:

  • New hybrid catalysts: Combining the mild and highly selective processes of e.g. photo-, electro-, organo- and biocatalysis.
  • New processes using micro process technology: Higher process control compared to batch processes through, for example, more efficient contacting of the reaction phases with the hybrid catalyst and more precise reaction times in the flow reactor.
  • Innovative plant concept: Modular combination of continuously operated single reactors and the integration of hybrid catalysts in easily replaceable modules. The modular design is a key innovative step that enables easy adaptation to future synthesis cascades and process scaling.
  • Integrated online analytics for process monitoring and chiral analysis

Our service offer

With our expertise and on the basis of our previous results, we offer developments and feasibility studies in the following areas:

  • Adaptation of the catalyst to the concept of hybrid catalysis
  • Process development for multi-stage cascade processes including chiral analysis
  • Reactor and plant development on the laboratory scale for feasibility studies to validate the synthesis process
  • Upscaling is possible after successful vaildation
© Fraunhofer IMM