Remarkable Improvement of Organic Photoreaction Efficiency in the Flow Microreactor by the Slug Flow Condition Using Water

A typical (Paterno-Buchi type) organic photoreaction is examined in flow microreactors. Compared to the results achieved for simple one-layer flow modes, slug flow conditions (with the unreactive reagent composed of organic solution and water) achieve higher efficiency (conversion and yield) irrespective of the light source, concentration, and solvent. Furthermore, remarkably high productivity is also observed when only 5% water is added as an unreactive reagent. This method is broadly applicable for achieving highly efficient organic photoreactions not only in the laboratory, but also on the industrial scale.