Flow chemistry articles from across Nature Portfolio

Stereoselective production of trans-4-substituted cyclohexane-1-amines—including a key intermediate in the synthesis of antipsychotic drug cariprazine—remains challenging. Here, the authors develop a process catalyzed by a single transaminase to produce trans-4-substituted cyclohexane-1-amines from the corresponding cis/trans-diastereomeric mixtures via a cis-deamination approach in continuous-flow, to achieve a dynamic cis-to-trans isomerization.

The proton shuttle plays a critical role in the proton transfer process during lithium-mediated ammonia synthesis. Here, the authors establish the structure-activity relationship and design principles for effective proton shuttles.

Mirror-image phage display has the potential for high-throughput generation of biologically stable macrocyclic D-peptide binders but is hindered by the optimization required for D-protein chemical synthesis. Here, the authors report a general mirror-image phage display pipeline based on automated flow peptide synthesis and use it to prepare and characterize 12 L/D-protein pairs.

Chemoenzymatic cascade reactions are often hindered by catalyst incompatibility. Now, the co-packing of catalyst-loaded Pickering emulsion droplets and solid microspheres into a continuous-flow column reactor leads to efficient combination of homogeneous, heterogeneous and enzymatic catalysts.

The production of ammonia via the Haber–Bosch process is carbon-intensive and centralized, but electrochemical methods such as lithium-mediated processes in organic electrolytes could enable decentralized production using renewable energy. Calcium is now shown to mediate nitrogen reduction for ammonia synthesis.

Polymersomes, as analogues of liposomes, have interesting physical and chemical properties, but have not yet been translated into clinical or industrial applications. Here, the authors report the development of a continuous flow process for the production of polymersomes at scale.

In this Issue, we focus on reaction outcomes which are unique to flow setups and their application in synthesis.

Flow chemistry provides a platform for the α-metallation and functionalization of tetrahydrofuran (THF).

Small-molecule drug discovery and development is limited by the ability of chemists to readily synthesize and purify new compounds with suitable chemical diversity. Now, a new twist on solid-phase chemical synthesis has enabled rapid and simplified synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant small molecules.

Fusion systems have been designed that link enzymes to cofactors and immobilization modules through appropriate synthetic spacers. These modular biocatalysts (assembling catalysis, cofactor provision/regeneration and assisted immobilization) are suited to heterogeneous biocatalysis systems and can be efficiently used in continuous flow reactors.

A rapid synthesis of the antibacterial drug linezolid using flow chemistry has been reported that does not require isolation or purification of any intermediates and is completed in seven synthetic steps