Parallel experimentation is a key tool in the fine chemicals industry to develop
cost-efficient processes in a short time. This is especially true for hydrogenation reactions
where a vast number of commercial catalysts are available with significantly different
properties and reactivities. The ability to quickly cover a good part of experimental space
and identify the optimal catalyst and reaction conditions would not be possible without
parallel experimentation. This article gives an overview of how such experiments are
performed at DSM and selected examples of successful projects.
Keywords: Hydrogenation, parallel experimentation, catalyst screening, reaction
optimization, vitamins, fine chemicals.