The power of using flow chemistry for multistep, multicomponent coupling processes to develop functional molecules with commercial applications and potential healthcare benefits is rapidly increasing.

Steven Ley and co-workers, Cambridge, United Kingdom, have developed a continuous flow synthesis of N,N-diethyl-4-(3-fluorophenylpiperidin-4-ylidenemethyl)benzamide, which is a potent δ-opioid receptor agonist developed by AstraZeneca.

The four-step process employs a sequence of flow-based microreactors, with integrated purification employing solid-supported reagents and in-line IR analytical protocols using a newly developed ReactIR flow cell.

• A Continuous Flow Process Using a Sequence of Microreactors with In-line IR Analysis for the Preparation of N,N-Diethyl-4-(3-fluorophenylpiperidin-4-ylidenemethyl)benzamide as a Potent and Highly Selective δ-Opioid Receptor Agonist
  Z. Qian, I. R. Baxendale, S. V. Ley,
  Chem. Eur. J. 2010, 16(41).
  DOI: 10.1002/chem.201002147