Flow chemistry in the multi-step synthesis of natural products

Li Wan; Gaopan Kong; Minjie Liu; Meifen Jiang; Dang Cheng; Fener Chen

Green Synthesis and Catalysis (Aug 2022)

Flow chemistry in the multi-step synthesis of natural products

Li Wan,
Gaopan Kong,
Minjie Liu,
Meifen Jiang,
Dang Cheng,
Fener Chen

Affiliations

Li Wan: Engineering Center of Catalysis and Synthesis for Chiral Molecules, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Gaopan Kong: Environmental and Industrial Fluid Dynamics Group, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Rd, Cambridge CB3 0WA, United Kingdom
Minjie Liu: Engineering Center of Catalysis and Synthesis for Chiral Molecules, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Meifen Jiang: Engineering Center of Catalysis and Synthesis for Chiral Molecules, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Dang Cheng: Engineering Center of Catalysis and Synthesis for Chiral Molecules, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Fener Chen: Engineering Center of Catalysis and Synthesis for Chiral Molecules, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Shanghai Engineering Center of Industrial Asymmetric Catalysis for Chiral Drugs, Shanghai 200433, China; Corresponding author. Engineering Center of Catalysis and Synthesis for Chiral Molecules, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3, no. 3
pp. 243 – 258

Abstract

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The total synthesis of natural products is constantly facing many challenges derived from the complexed chemical structures, the lengthy synthetic routes, the time-consuming workup procedures and the large environmental footprint. In the past two decades, performing chemical transformations in continuous flow using various types of microreactors and in-line auxiliary technologies have been demonstrated effectively in respects of enhanced reaction yield and selectivity, excellent reproducibility and easy scale-up, safe proceeding hazardous reaction. And the rapid synthesis of natural products, which has been enabled in continuous flow based upon the significant improvement of overall yield within a short residence time via processing intensification and systematic automation, is essential to furnish sufficient quantity for the bioactivity investigation of structural diversity modification, structure-activity relationship during drug discovery and the increasing consumption of medical treatment. In this review, the multi-step continuous flow synthesis of natural products is highlighted to provide a comprehensive recognization on the intrinsic merits of flow chemistry for organic chemists to purposefully develop the flow synthetic approaches of natural products in the future.

Published in Green Synthesis and Catalysis

ISSN: 2666-5549 (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology; Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry: Biochemistry
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/green-synthesis-and-catalysis/

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