Hot chemistry: continuous pyrolysis for the preparation of API’s intermediate

Synopsis

Flamma is developing a pilot-process for the preparation of an API’s intermediate using a continuous technology.

The continuous process involves a pyrolysis step using high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, in particular it is a pyrolytic syn elimination reaction, which proceeds through a six membered transition state.

The realization of the continuous plant has been developed in-house and consists of a tube-reactor inserted in an oven. The reaction occurs in gas phase. The starting material is continuously loaded as pure material, carried over the tube by nitrogen flow being volatilized and converted due to the high temperature.

The optimization of continuous process is underway and involves both the chemistry and the equipment. The targets are to improve conversion and quality, assuring the reproducibility of the performance and maximizing the productivity, in view of the future industrialization of the process for a production of an API.