Patent ID: 8609873

Claim:
A process for oxidising a substrate using a microreactor having at least one channel comprising the steps of: passing diluted fluorine through a conduit into a microreactor channel; passing RCN in water through another conduit thereby forming HOF.RCN wherein R is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl or iso-butyl; and contacting the HOF.RCN with a substrate to be oxidised such that conversion of fluorine to HOF.RCN proceeds in a stoichiometric manner such that one equivalent of fluorine generates one equivalent of HOF.RCN, wherein the HOF.RCN formation and oxidation stages are decoupled within the same reaction system allowing the continuous generation of HOF.RCN thereby minimising degradation of the HOF.RCN prior to contact with the substrate and reducing or eliminating the exposure of the substrate to fluorine.