Photochemical synthesis of a “cage” compound in a microreactor: Rigorous comparison with a batch photoreactor

An intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition is performed in a microphotoreactor (0.81 mL) built by winding FEP tubing around a commercially available Pyrex immersion well in which a medium pressure mercury lamp is inserted. A rigorous comparison with a batch photoreactor (225 mL) is proposed by means of a simple model coupling the reaction kinetics with the mass, momentum and radiative transfer equations. This serves as a basis to explain why the chemical conversion and the irradiation time are respectively increased and reduced in the microphotoreactor relative to those in the batch photoreactor. Through this simple model reaction, some criteria for transposing photochemical synthesis from a batch photoreactor to a continuous microphotoreactor are defined.

► We investigate an intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition in a microphotoreactor.
► A rigorous comparison with a batch photoreactor is proposed by means of a simple model.
► Some design criteria are defined.
► They are used for transposing photochemistry from a batch to a continuous reactor.