You are currently viewing a new version of our website. To view the old version click .
Molecules
  • This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
  • Review
  • Open Access

26 December 2025

Advances in Flow Chemistry for Organolithium-Based Synthesis: A Process Perspective

,
,
,
,
,
,
and
1
National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Deep Utilization Technology of Rock-Salt Resource, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an 223003, China
2
China Construction Industrial & Energy Engineering Group Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210023, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules2026, 31(1), 105;https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010105 
(registering DOI)

Abstract

While organolithium reactions hold great promise in synthetic chemistry, their high reactivity, strong exothermicity, and the instability of intermediates often limit their application, making the effective control of reaction processes difficult in traditional batch reactors. This review systematically summarizes the latest advances in utilizing flow chemistry technology to address process challenges related to organolithium reactions from 2014 to 2025. From a process perspective, we systematically discuss the literature cases regarding three key themes: the synthesis of organic compounds applied in the pharmaceutical field, the development of novel methods centered on effective process control (reaction temperature, residence time, phase state, multi-step reaction sequence, and safety), and fundamental process research on continuous flow organolithium reactions. Analysis shows that continuous flow systems provide a powerful platform for fully realizing the potential of organolithium chemistry by enhancing heat/mass transfer and precisely controlling reaction parameters. This review emphasizes how flow chemistry technology not only improves process safety and efficiency but also enables transformations and process scaling that are difficult or impossible in batch modes, thus providing a novel process intensification method for modern synthetic chemistry.

Article Metrics

Citations

Article Access Statistics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.