Partners and Project Work (Modules)

With the unique and long-term funding opportunities provided by the CDLMC and the commitment of our partners we are conducting microwave chemistry research in several different areas. As part of the basic research component of this grant we are actively involved in investigating the underlying principles and advantages of carrying out chemical transformations and processes under microwave irradiation conditions. There is still considerable uncertainty and debate on the true nature of "microwave effects" responsible for enhancing chemical transformations, in particular in the field of organic synthesis. The results from these fundamental studies are directly relevant both to our industrial partners and also to the scientific community in general. Based on these investigations we will explore innovative new applications of microwave heating technology in areas as diverse as for example peptide synthesis, proteomics, nanotechnology, biocatalysis and process research.

Project work with our industrial partners is in part related to issues of microwave reactor technology (Module 1, Anton Paar), peptide synthesis (Module 2, piCHEM), and continuous flow processing (Modules 3, 4, and 5; Thales Nanotechnology, Lonza AG and Microinnova). One of the biggest problems in microwave chemistry today is the scale-up to multi kg and higher product quantities, clearly limiting the potential of the technology. Applied research in the CDLMC will center on investigating the concept of microwave synthesis under continuous flow conditions on large scale, ultimately leading to processes that allow a production capacity of several kilograms per day. An additional collaboration in this field involves BASF AG.