Flash chemistry advantages

In flash chemistry in the solution phase, conduction and convection play major roles in heat transfer. Heat transfer occurs through the solution by conduction and convection. For conduction, a short distance in microspace is advantageous. A more important issue to consider is the heat transfer through the reactor wall, because heat generated by the reaction should eventually be removed from the reaction system. Heat transfer through the reactor wall plays a major role for this purpose. The high surface-to-volume ratio of microspaces is advantageous from this point of view. 

Examples of flash chemistry that take advantage of characteristic features of microflow systems will be demonstrated in the following chapters. 

There are many examples of flash chemistry in organic synthesis using various methods for acceleration. Because of space limitations, our discussion in this chapter is not an exhaustive compilation of all known examples. Rather, it is a sampling of sufficient variety to illustrate the principles, features, and advantages. These examples speak well for the future possibilities of flash chemistry in organic synthesis, not only from an academic point of view, but also from the viewpoint of industrial production. 

The concept of flash chemistry can be applied to polymer synthesis. Cationic polymerization can be conducted in a highly controlled manner by virtue of the inherent advantage of extremely fast micromixing and fast heat transfer. An excellent level of molecular weight control and molecular-weight distribution control can be attained without deceleration caused by equilibrium between active species and dormant species. The polymerization is complete within a second or so. The microflow system-controlled cationic polymerization seems to be close to ideal living polymerization within a short residence time. 

Flash chemistry in industry has several advantages from the viewpoint of green sustainable synthesis. In 1987, the United Nations Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission) called for a form of sustainable development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 

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