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Synthetic applications of light, electricity, mechanical force and flow

Nature Reviews Chemistry volume 3, pages 290–304 (2019)Cite this article

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Abstract

An energy input is often required to promote chemical reactions. Although heat is commonly applied to overcome activation barriers in such processes, other forms of energy can also be utilized to unlock chemical potential. Light, electricity and mechanical force can facilitate chemical transformations, and these strategies can also benefit from technological advancements in reactor design and the integration of flow processes. Although these approaches have been investigated since the 19th century, they are enjoying a resurgence and now find mainstream and diverse synthetic applications. Improvements have generally coincided with conceptual and technological developments, and this Review showcases recent advances aligned with themes spanning photoredox catalysis, mechanochemistry, electrosynthesis and synthesis in static electric fields and in flow.

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Fig. 1: Synthetic applications of visible-light-mediated photocatalysis.
Fig. 2: Identifying the potential of pulsed irradiation in photocatalysis.
Fig. 3: Applications of electrochemistry in organic synthesis.
Fig. 4: Applications of static electric fields in organic synthesis.
Fig. 5: Applications of mechanochemical force in synthesis.
Fig. 6: Microfluidic-controlled chemoselective synthesis.

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Acknowledgements

J.C.R. thanks the Australian Government for a Research Training Program scholarship. M.L.C. gratefully acknowledges the Australian Research Council (ARC) for a Georgina Sweet ARC Laureate Fellowship (FL170100041). A.C.B. thanks the Collier Charitable Fund for financial support.

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  1. School of Natural Sciences–Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Johnathon C. Robertson & Alex C. Bissember

  2. ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    Michelle L. Coote

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J.C.R. researched data for the article and contributed to writing, preparation of figures, reviewing and editing the manuscript before submission. M.L.C. and A.C.B. researched data for the article and contributed to the discussion of content, preparation of figures, writing, reviewing and editing the manuscript before submission.

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Robertson, J.C., Coote, M.L. & Bissember, A.C. Synthetic applications of light, electricity, mechanical force and flow. Nat Rev Chem 3, 290–304 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-019-0094-2

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