3D-printed capsules enhance speed and safety of synthetic chemistry

By Hannah Hamilton2024-03-21T14:38:00

Three glass flasks showing a colour change in a reaction from clear to light blue to purple

Source: © Valentine P. Ananikov/Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry

Encapsulated reagents allow chemists to ditch their Schlenk line to synthesise ferrocene

Chemists have used 3D printing to produce plastic capsules that store and isolate chemicals for organic synthesis. Soluble in common organic solvents, the capsules release compounds directly within a reaction mixture, offering a safer system for handling volatile, toxic and flammable reagents in the lab.