Simultaneous solvent screening and reaction optimization in microliter slugs

An automated, continuous flow droplet screening system is presented, enabling real-time simultaneous solvent and continuous variable optimization. An optimal design of experiments strategy is applied to the alkylation of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane in 16 mu L droplets, with scale-up demonstrated. Analysis of segmented flow results suggests correlation of yield with solvent hydrogen bond basicity.