Continuous Krapcho Dealkoxycarbonylation in API Synthesis

A high pressure and high temperature continuous flow reactor has been used to intensify a Krapcho dealkoxycarbonylation reaction in the context of API synthesis. The reactor enables operation of the reaction above temperatures possible in batch and thus significantly increased conversion rates are achieved. Also a broader choice of solvents is possible by the use of the continuous process. Batch and continuous reaction are compared in terms of operation range and space-time-yield. Despite lower concentrations of the reactants in the continuous process, space-time-yield exceeds that of the batch process by more than an order of magnitude due to the higher reaction rates.