Since 2010 we have been working in the implementation of flow chemistry in drug discovery in order to put on the bench reactions not usually run a medicinal chemistry lab. Vapourtec instrumentation, R- and E-Series, has been very helpful to achieve this goal due to its easy open access software and the robustness of the systems that allowed us full reproducibility of results regardless the scale we use. In recent years, the implementation of Vapourtec automated flow reactors has allowed us to prepare compound libraries, either using traditional coils or photochemical reactors, and expand our capabilities to other Janssen sites.

Dr Jesus Alcazar

EMD Serono is the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA, a leading science and technology company. With a focus on developing innovative therapies in the areas of neurology, oncology, fertility, and endocrinology, EMD Serono is committed to improving the lives of patients worldwide. Through their research and development efforts, EMD Serono has brought many groundbreaking treatments to market and continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the field of biopharmaceuticals.

Mr Chris Jones

We are very satisfied with both the ease of use and the results obtained from the R-Series flow chemistry systems. The automation and models included in the software allow to obtain data quickly while requiring only a small amount of reagent.

Diana Silva-Brenes, PhD

Vapourtec’s R-Series flow equipment has been an extremely useful addition for our laboratory. It is now used on a daily basis, and it has allowed us to open up a whole new research line using flow chemistry. Both its software and hardware are very intuitive and modular, making it easy and accessible to both regular and new users.

The UV-150 photochemical reactor has also proved to be an essential unit for the development of our research regarding the C(sp³)-H photochemical functionalization of gaseous alkanes. The exhaustive control over the gas and the possibility of pressurization above the pressure limit of the cylinder are two of the many advantages that Vapourtec has provided us with, greatly facilitating and enriching our research.

Additionally, Vapourtec’s technical support has been extremely helpful whenever necessary.

José Luis Nova, Postdoctoral Researcher

At our research laboratory at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the Justus Liebig University, Giessen, the incorporation of Vapourtec flow systems has revolutionized our experimental capabilities and significantly enhanced the efficiency and scalability of our chemical processes. Utilizing both the R-series and E-series systems, supported by multiple single pumps, we’ve been able to seamlessly conduct sophisticated flow chemistry experiments that demand precision and reproducibility.

One standout achievement made possible by the Vapourtec systems is our work on the “In-situ Oxidation and Coupling of Anilines towards Unsymmetric Azobenzenes Using Flow Chemistry.” Published in ChemSusChem (2024), this study showcases the remarkable benefits of flow chemistry in generating unsymmetric azobenzenes with precision and speed.

In another groundbreaking project, we explored the “Continuous Flow Synthesis of Cycloparaphenylene Building-Blocks on a Large Scale,” as featured in Chem. Eur. J. (2023). The Vapourtec system facilitated our scale-up process by ensuring consistent and efficient production of these complex structures. This capability was pivotal in overcoming traditional synthesis limitations, enabling us to produce large-scale amounts of cycloparaphenylene building-blocks efficiently.

The reliable performance and user-friendly interface of the Vapourtec systems have been instrumental in achieving our research goals. Their flexibility allows us to adapt to various chemical processes quickly, saving both time and resources. We’re incredibly pleased with the Vapourtec technology, which continues to support our mission of pioneering efficient and scalable synthetic methods in flow chemistry.

We look forward to continued collaboration and innovation with Vapourtec in the future.

Professor Hermann Wegner

Vapourtec flow equipment has been used in our laboratories for over a decade to develop several chemo-enzymatic processes for the synthesis of high-value compounds.

From the R-Series to the easy-Medchem, we have always appreciated the system’s modularity, which allowed us to customize and adapt our setups. The ability to integrate different reactors and modules was a key factor in designing novel synthetic solutions for the production of biologically active compounds. The user-friendly interface and durability of the instruments add significant value to both our daily research activities and our teaching efforts with master’s students.

Moreover, Vapourtec’s customer service is a major asset: supportive of academic work and always ready to provide prompt assistance, both in person and remotely. With Vapourtec, we have never missed a deadline and have consistently achieved our scientific goals.

Lucia Tamborini, Researcher

Our group has used the Vapourtec UV-150 extensively, and it has been instrumental in driving forward our research in photocatalytic C(sp³)–H functionalization. The reactor’s precision, scalability, and reliability have supported the publication of six peer-reviewed papers in collaboration with Vapourtec researchers, including notable works in Science and in Nature Communications. In our Science paper, the UV-150 enabled mild, room-temperature activation of light alkanes with decatungstate, showcasing the power of flow photochemistry for generating complex products with high selectivity. More recently, we demonstrated in Nature Communications that combining the UV-150 with organic solvent nanofiltration allowed continuous transformations with efficient catalyst recovery—highlighting its industrial potential.

We believe the UV-150 is the best photochemical reactor on the market, and Vapourtec’s technical support has been exceptional throughout our collaboration.

Professor Timothy Noël

The Renewable Energy Laboratory at the National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan) is proud to be the first research group in Central Asia to implement the Vapourtec R-Series continuous flow chemistry platform for sustainable chemical synthesis. Our group utilizes this system for the production of key platform chemicals, notably furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, which are subsequently upgraded into active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), biopolymers, and resins. Although operational challenges – such as system blockages due to reaction conditions and unwanted byproduct formation – are occasionally encountered, these are efficiently resolved through the rapid technical support provided by Vapourtec engineers. This responsiveness greatly enhances the efficiency and continuity of our research activities.

Our system configuration includes the Vapourtec R-Series unit, integrated with Hastelloy high-temperature reactor coils, packed columns, and photochemical reactors, offering precise control over a wide range of reaction parameters. This robust and versatile setup enables high-temperature, high-pressure, and photochemical transformations, expanding the frontiers of flow chemistry applications in the region.

Harry Kwaku Megbenu, PhD student

My group’s research in photoredox catalysis has been dramatically augmented by Vapourtec’s world-leading flow chemistry solutions. We are the proud owners of two fully automated R-Series platforms and one E-Series system, all of which are used on a daily basis. The software and hardware are so intuitive to use that my entire group has now gravitated towards running experiments in continuous flow. We now routinely carry out reaction optimisation, automated library synthesis, kinetic analysis, and scale up in flow. Essentially our full workflow for reaction development. Vapourtec’s customer service is second to none – they really do go above and beyond. If you want to take your chemistry to the next level, Vapourtec ought to be your first port of call.

Professor Alexander Cresswell

We have a long-standing excellent relationship with Vapourtec and use Vapourtec’s R-Series, E-Series, SF-10 pumps and Ion reactor on a daily basis. This has enabled the delivery of many advanced organic chemistry outcomes and breakthroughs, in terms of synthesis and in demonstrating the power of flow chemistry, it’s efficiency, effectiveness and high throughput/scaleup.

We carry out multiple reactions autonomously and effectively which massively improves work output. Vapourtec are a highly professional and passionate supplier of equipment of exceptional quality and engineering and technical excellence. Their drive for improvements in excellence has no bounds.

This was further demonstrated when we approached them recently for help with a challenging issue. We had a solvent/substrate system that was challenging in respect of keeping the reactants in the solvent while heating to and operating at temperature due to sublimation and precipitation. Vapourtec suggested a pressurised CSTR system which would provide the first step in our synthesis.

We could then use the CSTR to feed our Vapourtec tubular reactor for the second step of synthesis via a pair of heated SF-10+ pumps. These pumps prevent precipitation during pumping and act as a back-pressure regulator. The system proved itself immediately, as the first step of synthesis via the CSTR was reduced from 4 hours to 10 minutes with full conversion of the starting material to product. The generous support of the whole team at Vapourtec is hugely appreciated!

Dr Lee Edwards

The automation on the Vapourtec R-Series flow reactor really helps our users to get the most from their visits to the Centre for Rapid Online Analysis of Reactions (ROAR) facility. It allows us to quickly setup a medium-throughput series of flow reactions and have the reactor run through the night collecting samples in the fraction collector for analysis.

Dr Ben Deadman

As one of the pioneers of flow chemistry, we have been using Vapourtec flow equipment for many years. The extremely high quality of the equipment is allowing our research to proceed not only using frequently modified set-ups, but also enables us to perform almost any chemistry. The automation capabilities, including especially the electrochemical equipment, has offered high productivity while the competent support from Vapourtec allows fast troubleshooting.

Professor Thomas Wirth

I really enjoy working with Vapourtec, they are an enthusiastic team who enjoy the challenge of how to build complex systems in flow. Their broad range of apparatus is easy to use and covers most of my research needs, my students particularly appreciate that each piece can be simply operated or linked for automation.

Working with actively crystallising systems is particularly challenging for flow operations and the Vapourtec team are keen to develop new technology with me to address these challenges. In terms of slurry delivery, their pumps are the best I’ve come across for combined control and low risk of pump failure.

Dr Keren Robertson

Vapourtec flow equipment is used routinely and for many different applications in our research group, be it for safely exploiting high-energy intermediates, performing photochemical cascades or scaling reactions. Its robustness and modularity are key in allowing postgraduate students to easily integrate different flow modules and advance their projects. The availability of newly developed flow reactor components together with the excellent support infrastructure from Vapourtec enables our team to succeed in our mission.

Professor Marcus Baumann

The Vapourtec E-Series flow chemistry system is an incredibly versatile tool for a variety of different chemistry research fields enabled by the broad selection of reactors. We frequently use the UV150 photochemical reactor for our own research, however other reactors such as the copper coil and thermal coils have enabled fruitful collaborations with other researchers, ranging from organometallics to bioconjugation.

The simplicity and user-friendly interface of the E-Series reactor allows new students and collaborators to become competent in using the equipment rapidly. Additionally, all key components of the reactor are easily accessible which allows for easy maintenance and troubleshooting, for example, in case of a blockage within a reactor. The built-in fail safes for monitoring reactor temperature and pump pressure are great for ensuring safety and preventing damage. We cannot recommend Vapourtec highly enough to anyone interested in flow chemistry research – their products are powerful and versatile for a broad range of chemistry research, and they continue to develop new reactors and technologies to further expand this.

Their customer service and technical support is unparalleled, and they have previously loaned us equipment to allow our research to progress while repairing our own, highlighting their excellent attitude towards supporting academia.

All our communications with Vapourtec support via email, phone, online calls, or in person at conferences have always been fruitful and a pleasure, with rapid responses on technical support. The team at Vapourtec really cares about the science and will advise you on what options are best for a particular project. Its also great that Vapourtec are open to collaborating on product design, application notes and hosting research posters and presentations on their website’s resource centre.

Dr Filipe Vilela