Catalytic hydrogenation is undoubtedly the most useful and widely applicable method for the reduction of chemical substances. It has been estimated that between 10 and 20% of chemical synthetic reactions in a typical pharmaceutical company are represented by catalytic hydrogenations. In spite of its widespread use, catalytic hydrogenation is still largely based on technologies developed more than 80 years ago. Heterogeneous hydrogenation is mainly performed using batch equipment and facilities specialized for the handling of hydrogen gas. Modern laboratory practices and, especially, the emergence of combinatorial chemistry methods have made it essential to improve the throughput of catalytic systems.

The benefits that micro-flow reactors can bring to catalytic hydrogenation technology are substantial. Small-scale solutions do not solely improve the efficiency of the hydrogenation reaction, but also actively make this reaction safer and more accessible. ThalesNano has developed the H-Cube®, a device that provides remarkable enhancement in the reaction efficiency as a result of the dramatically increased mass transfer coefficients achievable at the micro scale, and circumvents many of the other limitations of existing technologies. H-Cube® is smaller and easier to run than old-style batch hydrogenators and is capable of performing heterogeneous reactions at 100°C (212°F) and 100 bar (1450 psi) - enabling a wide range of possible reactions while minimizing contact with the catalyst, thereby allaying any safety concerns.