METHODS FOR ASYMMETRIC EPOXIDATION USING FLOW REACTORS

摘要

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to asymmetric epoxidation of olefinic alcohols, using a chiral alcohol chelated titanium catalyst and an organic peroxide performed in a microreactor flow reactor system that can comprise multiple microreactor modules. Molecular sieves can be used to remove any adventitious water in the reagent feed solutions and ensure an anhydrous reaction solution. The use of a microreactor flow reactor allows for the epoxidation reaction to be run at elevated temperatures of at least 20, 30, or even 50° C, which dramatically accelerates the reaction, but without a large drop in enantioselectivity. The reaction can therefore be performed with short reaction times resulting in a high throughput.