# A countercurrent microflow strategy for simultaneous high selectivity and conversion in aromatic nitration

## TL;DR

A new microflow strategy improves both conversion and selectivity in aromatic nitration, solving a long-standing trade-off issue.

## Contribution

A two-stage countercurrent microflow strategy is introduced to simultaneously enhance conversion and selectivity in aromatic nitration.

## Key findings

- The countercurrent microflow strategy increases spatiotemporal conversion rate by over five times compared to single-stage co-current microflow.
- The inhibition mechanism of over-nitration is identified, involving in situ H2O reducing nitroaromatic dissolution.
- The microflow strategy achieves high conversion and selectivity without trade-offs across various aromatic substrates.

## Abstract

Aromatic nitration, a hazardously complex process, poses serious risks. A major challenge for the reaction is the trade-off effect between spatiotemporal conversion rate and selectivity, particularly the over-nitration side reactions that have plagued the field for nearly 200 years. We propose a countercurrent microflow mode between two microreactors, which boosts spatiotemporal conversion rate by over five times compared to the normal single-stage co-current microflow mode, and two orders of magnitude compared to traditional batch reactors. Meanwhile, we identify an inhibition mechanism of over-nitration. The generated H2O in the main reaction can in situ reduce the dissolution of nitroaromatics in the aqueous phase and effectively prevent over-nitration. Through synergistic control of both kinetics and thermodynamics in the microreaction process, high spatiotemporal conversion and selectivity are achieved simultaneously, overcoming the trade-off effect. Furthermore, we demonstrate the broad applicability of the microflow strategy across various aromatic nitration processes.

Aromatic nitration faces a trade-off effect between conversion and selectivity. Here, the authors develop a two-stage countercurrent microflow strategy that regulates reaction kinetics and thermodynamics, simultaneously achieving high conversion and selectivity across multiple aromatic substrates.