Travel Arrangement: Africa-bound train ride commences soon

In the world of chemistry, a groundbreaking development has taken place. The Africa microreactor, designed by UK-based technology company Syrris, is making waves for its ability to expedite compound synthesis and reaction optimisation.

This innovative microreactor, named after the visualisation of a series of trains on a track, has demonstrated a unique capability: combining homogeneous reactions with the use of immobilized reagents. This fusion of traditional and advanced methods promises to revolutionise the field of chemistry.

Professor Alex Blacker, a university professor working with Syrris, is at the forefront of developing the automated flow reaction control system for the Africa microreactor. The marketing team at Syrris came up with the name, encouraging newcomers to think of it as a series of trains on a track.

The benefits of fast optimization and small scale are attainable with the Africa microreactor. It is currently being used for standard reactions like condensations, ring formation, esterifications, and deprotections. Syrris, established in 2001, has entered into an agreement with Professor Steven Ley, a professor of organic chemistry at the University of Cambridge, UK, for the development of their automated flow reaction incubation and control apparatus, named Africa.

Professor Ley plans to use the Africa microreactor for a program of multi-step synthesis work. He has previously stated that flow is well-suited for the Africa microreactor. Reactions can be run and analysed overnight using the Africa microreactor system.

Each train in the microreactor consists of a number of carriages of starting materials that diffuse and react as they move. Parameters such as reaction time, temperature, and stoichiometry can be adjusted in real time within the microreactor, offering a level of control previously unseen in such systems.

The Africa microreactor is set to redefine the way chemists approach synthesis, offering a faster, more efficient, and more precise method for compound creation. This development is a significant step forward in the field of chemistry and is sure to excite and inspire chemists worldwide.