Applied research based on microreactive continuous flow technology: an improved experiment for the synthesis of aspirin and Paracetamol for undergraduates
摘要
Flow chemistry provides a new method for medicinal chemistry education owing to its continuous operation, improved reaction efficiency, and safety. In the improved experiment, dioxane was used as a solvent to dissolve salicylic acid and acetic anhydride; this helped reduce the corrosion of the equipment by the reaction solution, prevent injuries, and ensure good fluidity. Simultaneously, a feeding system under nitrogen protection was designed and applied to avoid the hydrolysis of acetic anhydride and deterioration of salicylic acid. The entire experiment included dissolution pre-experiments, energy-saving and consumption reduction experiment. Paracetamol was synthesized using a technique that had also been applied in undergraduate teaching experiments. Compared to previously reported aspirin synthesis experiments, this method enhances the safety of the experiment and diversity of cultivation abilities. This experiment not only improves the teaching effect but also provides an example of the application of flow chemistry and medicinal chemistry in teaching.