A Strategic, ‘Green’ Approach to Organic Chemistry with Microwave Assistance and Predictive Yield Optimization as Core, Enabling Technologies

Christopher R. Strauss

doi:10.1071/CH08375

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A Strategic, ‘Green’ Approach to Organic Chemistry with Microwave Assistance and Predictive Yield Optimization as Core, Enabling Technologies

Christopher R. Strauss ^A ^B ^C

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A QUILL Centre, The Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 5AG, UK.

^B Strauss Consulting Ltd, PO Box 1065, Kunyung LPO, Mt Eliza, Vic. 3930, Australia.

^C Corresponding author. Email: chris.strauss@qub.ac.uk

After 16 years investigating grape, wine, and spirit flavour until 1987, Chris Strauss pioneered fields that included microwave chemistry, green chemistry, predictive optimization of yields, and chemistry in high-temperature water. His group alone, created the market and the technological innovations that underpinned contemporary commercial microwave systems that now are employed extensively for chemical research and manufacturing globally. His prizes include the CSIRO Medal (shared), inaugural RACI Green Chemistry Challenge award and the Birch Medal. He presently shares his time among Queen’s University, Belfast, where he holds a Chair and conducts research, and in Europe and Australia, where he operates consultancies.

Australian Journal of Chemistry 62(1) 3-15 https://doi.org/10.1071/CH08375
Submitted: 3 September 2008 Accepted: 22 October 2008 Published: 21 January 2009

Abstract

Since 1988, we have pursued enabling technologies and methods as tools for ‘green’ synthetic chemistry. The developed technologies comprise hardware including catalytic membranes and continuous and batch microwave reactors that have established global markets, as well as interactive, predictive software for optimization of yields and translation of conditions. New methods include ‘green’ reactions such as a catalytic symmetrical etherification, Pd-catalyzed coupling processes and a multi-component cascade for aniline derivatives. Reactions and workup were facilitated through solvent-free conditions, aqueous media at high temperature and dimethylammonium dimethylcarbamate (dimcarb) as a ‘distillable’ protic ionic liquid, as well as by non-extractive techniques for product isolation. The technologies and methods were designed for use alone or in various combinations as desired. Consolidation of individual operations or processes into unit steps was achieved through multi-tasking: media, reactants, catalysts, and conditions were selected to serve several purposes at various stages of a reaction. The tools were used to establish a technology platform comprising structurally diverse oligomers, macrocycles, and rod-like molecules supplementary to those available through phenol-formaldehyde chemistry. Dienone precursors were assembled from versatile building blocks containing complementary ‘male’ or ‘female’ fittings that were connected through inherently ‘green’ Claisen–Schmidt-type reactions. Isoaromatization afforded Horning-crowns, macrocyclic phenolic derivatives that were hybrids of calixarenes and crown ethers. Preliminary studies of organic substrates in salt water, with and without CO₂, called into question proposals for disposal of anthropogenic CO₂ by deep-sea dispersal.

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank his coauthors in the articles cited for their dedication and perseverance in bringing much of the research to fruition. Professor D. W. Cameron, Dr P. J. Williams and Professor K. R. Seddon are thanked for support and encouragement far exceeding any call of duty. Milestone (Italy) is thanked for helping to transform microwave dreams into commercial reality. Gabriela Adamova is thanked for producing the figures for the present work.

References