Scientists at Liverpool ChiroChem (LCC), have written a white paper describing their use of Asynt’s Illumin8 parallel photoreactor to synthesise a range of new 2-Aryl N-Heterocycles.
The discovery of a novel enantioselective synthetic pathway for reduction of pyridines to the corresponding chiral piperidines led to the formation of LCC in 2014. Since inception, LCC has enhanced its expertise, enabling it to provide leading scientific organisations with access to chirally-pure compounds that play a part in small molecule drug discovery.
The white paper describes how, using a combination of photoredox-mediated hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and nickel catalysis, scientists were able to synthesise di- and tri-functionalised N-pyrrolidines of high interest to the drug discovery community.
Dr Shaun Smullen, a senior research chemist at LCC, said: "Our initial photochemical reaction set-up using Kessil 40 W lamps was rather time consuming. The introduction of Asynt’s Illumin8 parallel photoreactor drastically improved our efficiency by allowing us to perform eight reactions simultaneously. The yields and selectivity of these reactions were comparable in both set-ups."
The Illumin8 parallel photoreactor is designed for simple to set-up, flexible, easy operation. Users can run up to eight photochemical reactions at a time in 6 mLborosilicate tubes. The unit mounts on a standard magnetic hotplate stirrer, enabling powerful agitation and heating (up to 80 °C). Easy to use connectors on top of the instrument permit an inert atmosphere or vacuum to be applied to each reaction tube. Further features include a ring of eight high power UV (365 nm) or blue (450 nm) light emitting diodes (LEDs) with safety interlocks to ensure light tight photochemical reactions. Each LED is positioned close to a corresponding reaction tube, to deliver an even photon flux, enhancing the consistency of photochemical reactions.
The full LCC white paper can be found here. For further information on the Illumin8 please visit https://www.asynt.com/product/illumin8-parallel-photoreactor/ or contact Asynt on +44-1638-781709 / enquiries@asynt.com.
