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A continuous flow protocol for the preparation of the tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) amitriptyline is reported. The advantages of flow chemistry when handling organometallic agents as well as when performing reaction with gases are demonstrated. Continuous multilithiation combined with carboxylation and the Parham cyclization, a Grignard addition and thermolytic water elimination by inductive heating are key features of the multistep protocol.

Inductive heating has emerged as a new heating technique in the laboratory, particularly when combined with miniaturized flow reactor devices. Traditionally, inductive heating is found in industrial applications like the heating of large metallic objects such as in the bending of pipes, bonding and welding. New fields of application are the preparation of nanotubes as well as hyperthermia in the treatment of cancer. This account specifically addresses the use of heatable materials such as superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in many areas of organic synthesis and how this enabling technology compares to conventional as well as microwave heating.

SummaryThe multistep flow synthesis of vinyl azides and their application in the synthesis of vinyltriazoles is reported. The synthesis relies on a stable polymer-bound equivalent of iodine azide that serves to carry out 1,2-functionalization of alkenes in a telescope flow protocol. The intermediate 2-iodo azides are subjected to a DBU-mediated polymer-supported elimination step yielding vinyl azides in good yield. The third step involves the formation of vinyl triazoles by a copper-catalyzed Huisgen-"click" cycloaddition. The required heat is generated by electromagnetic induction based on copper. Copper serves both as heatable as well as catalytically active packed-bed material inside the flow reactor.

SummaryThe photodenitrogenation of vinyl azides to 2H-azirines by using a photoflow reactor is reported and compared with thermal formation of 2H-azirines. Photochemically, the ring of the 2H-azirines was opened to yield the nitrile ylides, which underwent a [3 + 2]-cycloaddition with 1,3-dipolarophiles. When diisopropyl azodicarboxylate serves as the dipolarophile, 1,3,4-triazoles become directly accessible starting from the corresponding vinyl azide.