A method for preparing L-carnitine using a micro-reaction system. (R)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate was subjected to quaternization and hydrolysis in an aqueous trimethylamine solution in the presence of an inorganic base in a micro-channel reactor to produce the L-carnitine.

A method for preparing (dimethylaminomethylene) malononitrile by using a micro reaction system. Cyanoacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide and a catalyst are mixed to obtain a mixture, and the mixture and phosphorus oxychloride are simultaneously pumped into the micro reaction system that includes a micromixer and a microchannel reactor connected in series for continuous dehydration condensation. After adjusted to a target pH, the crude product is subjected to continuous liquid-liquid extraction with an organic solvent in a centrifugal extraction unit comprising a plurality of annular centrifugal extractors connected in series. The organic phase is collected to obtain the target product (dimethyl aminomethylene) malononitrile.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for methods of making quantum dots (QDs) (passivated or unpassivated) using a continuous flow process, systems for making QDs using a continuous flow process, and the like. In one or more embodiments, the QDs produced using embodiments of the present disclosure can be used in solar photovoltaic cells, bio-imaging, IR emitters, or LEDs.

Systems and methods for synthesizing chemical products, including active pharmaceutical ingredients, are provided. Certain of the systems and methods described herein are capable of manufacturing multiple chemical products without the need to fluidically connect or disconnect unit operations when switching from one making chemical product to making another chemical product.

A continuous acoustic chemical microreactor system is disclosed. The system includes a continuous process vessel (CPV) and an acoustic agitator coupled to the CPV and configured to agitate the CPV along an oscillation axis. The CPV includes a reactant inlet configured to receive one or more reactants into the CPV, an elongated tube coupled at a first end to the reactant inlet and configured to receive the reactants from the reactant inlet, and a product outlet coupled to a second end of the elongated tube and configured to discharge a product of a chemical reaction among the reactants from the CPV. The acoustic agitator is configured to agitate the CPV along the oscillation axis such that the inner surface of the elongated tube accelerates the one or more reactants in alternating upward and downward directions along the oscillation axis.

Modular reactors comprising a chassis, reactor tubing and optionally a cover are disclosed. The chassis comprises a plurality of channels of different lengths into which a length of reactor tubing is placed to create the reactor portion of the flow reactor.

Techniques regarding post polymerization modifications to polycarbonate polymers via a flow reactor are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a cyclic carbonate monomer that can be employed to facilitate polymerization of one or more polycarbonate platforms susceptible to post polymerization modification. For instance, one or more embodiments can regard a cyclic carbonate molecular backbone covalently bonded to an aryl halide functional group via in accordance with a chemical structure selected from the group consisting of: ##STR00001##
In the chemical structures, “R.sub.1” can be selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a functional group comprising a first alkyl group; “L” can represent a linkage group, comprising: a second alkyl group and an end group having at least one member selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom; and “A” can represent the aryl halide functional group.

Techniques regarding post polymerization modifications to polycarbonate polymers via a flow reactor are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a cyclic carbonate monomer that can be employed to facilitate polymerization of one or more polycarbonate platforms susceptible to post polymerization modification. For instance, one or more embodiments can regard a cyclic carbonate molecular backbone covalently bonded to an aryl halide functional group via in accordance with a chemical structure selected from the group consisting of:

##STR00001##

In the chemical structures, “R.sub.1” can be selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a functional group comprising a first alkyl group; “L” can represent a linkage group, comprising: a second alkyl group and an end group having at least one member selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom; and “A” can represent the aryl halide functional group.

Disclosed herein is a micro-reactor for synthesizing a molecule, for example, compound, a nanoparticle, or a quantum dot. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the apparatus comprises a processor, a storage unit, a reaction unit, a detector, and a collector, in which the storage unit and the reaction unit are independently controlled by the process. Optionally, the present micro-reactor further comprises a diagnostic device for performing a diagnostic test on a biological sample by use of the molecule. Also disclosed wherein are methods of diagnosing and treating a disease in a subject with the aid of the present micro-reactor.

Modular reactors comprising a chassis, reactor tubing and optionally a cover are disclosed. The chassis comprises a plurality of channels of different lengths into which a length of reactor tubing is placed to create the reactor portion of the flow reactor.