10.1002/chem.201001703
The research explores the use of sintered silicon carbide (SiC) as a novel ceramic material for reaction vessels in microwave chemistry. The purpose of this study is to leverage SiC's high microwave absorptivity, thermal conductivity, and chemical inertness, which allows for efficient heating and improved control over reaction conditions, particularly in extreme temperature and pressure regimes. The conclusions drawn from the research indicate that SiC vessels provide almost complete shielding from electromagnetic fields, effectively separating thermal from specific/nonthermal microwave effects on chemical reactions. This technology enables the safe use of corrosive reagents at high temperatures and pressures, which is not feasible with standard glass vessels. The chemicals used in the process include a variety of solvents with different microwave absorbtivities, such as hexane, acetonitrile (MeCN), ethanol (EtOH), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (bmimPF6), as well as reagents like triethylamine trihydrofluoride (TREAT-HF) and strong aqueous bases like potassium hydroxide (KOH) for various reaction scenarios.