Microstructured reactors as tools for the intensification of pharmaceutical reactions and processes.

Process intensification is a design philosophy that aims to reduce the cost and energy input into chemical processes, while simultaneously increasing yield and purity. Microstructured reactors have an important role to play in the implementation of this philosophy, as the transformation from batch to continuous processing and the heat and mass transfer characteristics of these reactors allows precise control of reaction time, temperature and mixing, leading to improvements in selectivity and conversion for organic reactions. This review highlights some of the remaining challenges to the widespread adoption of these reactors, and the progress being made toward overcoming these issues.