Flash Chemistry – Fast Organic Synthesis in Microsystems

Ed. Jun-ichi Yoshida; Wiley; 2009: ISBN 978-0-470-03586-3, 244 + ix pages, Price 94.90 Euros.

Professor Yoshida has authored a very readable text with a lot of introductory material useful for the newcomer to the topic of fast continuous processing in microreactors, which he calls Flash Chemistry. Being a monograph, the author can spend time discussing topics such as “What is Flash Chemistry” and “Why is Flash Chemistry Needed” before moving on to “Methods of Activating Molecules” and “Control of Extremely Fast Reactions”.  In the latter he focuses on mixing and micromixing, temperature control and use of residence time to control reactions, with a case study on benzyne generation.  He follows this with a chapter on equipment and then proceeds to discuss applications in synthesis.  This chapter is an excellent review with references up to 2007, and emphasises which reactions are most suited to microreactors.  Much of the discussion is on work done in Japan, some of which may be new to Western readers.  The book concludes with industrial applications and discusses work that may only have appeared in the patent literature.