National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Develops Multistage Impinging Microreactor for Pharmaceutical Intermediate Production.

Tokyo, Japan, Jan 23, 2006 - (JCN) - The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) announced on January 20 that its Research Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Chemistry, in collaboration with Osaka Organic Chemical Industry, has developed a multistage impinging microreactor for producing pharmaceutical intermediates.

The new microreactor, which has multiple microchannels, 200 microns in both width and depth, can complete a chemical reaction by simply injecting two different solutions. Further, it can conduct synthetic reactions at -30 degrees centigrade; conventionally -70 degrees centigrade was required.

Using this microreactor, the Research Institute has succeeded in producing aldehydes from esters and isobutyl aluminum hydride in a rapid, highly-selective and less environmentally demanding manner.

AIST expects that the new microreactor will contribute to the production of pharmaceutical intermediates as well as the synthesis of electronic materials. Details of this achievement will be presented at the Fourth International Workshop on Micro Chemical Plants to be held on January 26 and 27 in Kyoto.

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