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Flow reactor with on-demand hydrogen generation
The H-Cube® Mini Plus is a compact continuous flow reactor for catalytic hydrogenation. The system generates high-pressure hydrogen gas on demand through the electrolysis of water, eliminating the need for external hydrogen cylinders.
The reactor enables hydrogenation reactions to be performed from atmospheric pressure up to 100 bar and from room temperature up to 100 °C. The system completes reactions within minutes, making it suitable for rapid reaction development and routine laboratory use.
One of the most widely used reactions in chemical synthesis
Hydrogenation is one of the most widely used reactions in chemical synthesis. However, the handling and storage of hydrogen gas can present safety challenges in the laboratory.
The H-Cube® Mini Plus addresses these concerns through in situ hydrogen generation and the use of sealed catalyst cartridges known as CatCarts. By generating hydrogen only when necessary and containing the catalyst within a dedicated cartridge, the system simplifies hydrogenation workflows while improving laboratory safety.
This approach has been adopted by pharmaceutical, flavor and fragrance, fine chemical and agrochemical companies, as well as academic research laboratories.
Features
The H-Cube® Mini Plus offers:
- Hydrogenation without hydrogen cylinders
- No catalyst filtration
- Fast reaction times
- User-friendly operation
- Affordable flow hydrogenation capabilities
- Built-in video tutorials
- Automated hydrogen drying system
- Operation up to 100 bar and 100 °C
How does the H-Cube Mini Plus work?
The instrument generates hydrogen directly through the electrolysis of water.
A built-in HPLC pump introduces pure solvent into the system and combines it with hydrogen using a mixing valve. The resulting gas-liquid mixture passes through the reaction zone while the selected operating conditions, including pressure, temperature and flow rate, are established.
Once it reaches the target parameters, the user switches the feed from solvent to the reactant solution. The reaction mixture then flows through a CatCart containing a packed solid catalyst. The reaction takes place within the cartridge while the catalyst remains inside the column.
The system directs the product out of the cartridge and collects it in a collection vial. Depending on the application, reaction scale can range from milligrams to grams.
Supported applications
The H-Cube Mini Plus is suitable for:
- Full reduction of triple bonds
- Debenzylation
- Nitrile reduction
- Selective nitro reduction
- Selective reduction of triple bonds to double bonds
- Selective reduction of double bonds
- Aldose reduction
- Aromatic heterocycle reduction
- Aromatic ring reduction
Additional reactions
Beyond hydrogenation, the system is also suitable for:
- Deuteration
- Sonogashira coupling
- Suzuki coupling
CatCart catalyst cartridges
CatCarts are designed to support safe and efficient heterogeneous catalysis in H-Cube® systems.
The cartridges are available as pre-packed versions or as user-fillable options. Integrated filters allow gases and liquids to pass through the cartridge while securely retaining the solid catalyst or reagent inside.
This design supports continuous flow synthesis, eliminates catalyst filtration and contributes to a safer and more convenient laboratory workflow.
Benefits for industry and academia
Industrial laboratories
The H-Cube® Mini Plus enables:
- Reduction of heterocycles to form high-fsp3 molecules
- Fast catalyst screening
- Rapid optimization of reaction parameters
- Selective hydrogenation reactions
- High-pressure chemistry within a laboratory fume hood
- A compact instrument footprint
- Access to high-temperature and high-pressure reaction conditions for new chemistry development
Academic laboratories
The system supports:
- Teaching hydrogenation to undergraduate students
- Simple operation suitable for student use
- Completion of reactions and monitoring within a single laboratory session
- Exposure to technology that is widely accepted in industry
Specifications
| Temperature range | Ambient to 100 °C |
|---|---|
| Pressure range | Atmospheric to 100 bar |
| Flow rate | 0.3–3 mL/min |
| Maximum hydrogen production rate | 25–30 NmL/min |
| Water reservoir capacity | 100 mL |
| Water specifications | Deionized water with max. conductivity of 71 nS/cm (min. resistance 14 MΩ·cm) |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | Width: 217 mm (8.54″) Height: 200 mm (7.87″, closed) / 315 mm (12.4″, open) Depth: 290 mm (11.42″) |
| Weight | 7.3 kg (16.09 lb) |
| Voltage | 100–240 V AC |
| Typical catalyst amount | 0.1–0.3 g |
| Recommended concentration | 0.01–1 M |
