Flow chemistry experiments in the undergraduate teaching laboratory: synthesis of diazo dyes and disulfides

By embedding flow technology in the early phases of academic education, students are exposed to both the theoretical and practical aspects of this modern and widely-used technology. Herein, two laboratory flow experiments are described which have been carried out by first year undergraduate students at Eindhoven University of Technology. The experiments are designed to be relatively risk-free and they exploit widely available equipment and cheap capillary flow reactors. The experiments allow students to develop a hands-on understanding of continuous processing and gives them insights in both organic chemistry and chemical engineering. Furthermore, they learn about the benefits of microreactors, continuous processing, multistep reaction sequences and multiphase chemistry. Undoubtedly, such skills are highly valued in both academia and the chemical industry.

Automated summary

By embedding flow technology in the early stages of academic education, students are exposed to both theoretical and practical aspects of this technology, allowing them to develop a hands-on understanding of continuous processing and gain insights in organic chemistry and chemical engineering. The experiments are relatively risk-free and utilize widely available equipment, providing students with valuable skills highly valued in academia and the chemical industry.