Aldol and Mannich Reactions in a Continuous-Flow Reactor

Significance

Odedra and Seeberger report the use of a continuous-flow microreactor in asymmetric aldol and Mannich reactions catalyzed by tetrazole catalyst 1. The authors demonstrated that passing the reaction mixture through a heated coil at 60 ˚C over only 20 min gave the product with full conversion, good yield and enantio­selectivity. The same reaction conducted in a flask delivered the product with inferior yield and enantioselectivity at 60 ˚C and could only be improved when carried out at room temperature over almost two days.