Development and application of a microwave loop reactor radiating through a leaky coaxial antenna(s)

Abstract

A novel microwave (MW) loop reactor radiating through a leaky coaxial antenna(s) was developed in this study. Compared with the traditional airlift loop reactor, this loop reactor can perform effective circulation due to MW-induced evaporation and without external gas injection. The circulation speed indicates the excellent transfer rate of materials. The model heterogeneous reactions for the preparation of chalcone and 2-(1-phenylethylene) malononitrile were successfully performed in the MW loop reactors at a scale of hundreds of grams with better results than those in a commercial MW reactor at a small scale. This reactor would have wide application prospects in the field of organic synthesis, especially in multiphase reactions.