An assessment of the technique of simultaneous cooling in conjunction with microwave heating for organic synthesis

In the light of the controversy in the area and since reports using simultaneous cooling in conjunction with microwave heating are appearing in the literature, we were keen to assess the methodology, looking at temperature measurement issues as well as the use of the technique in three classes of reaction, namely a Heck coupling, a Diels–Alder cycloaddition and a Michael addition. We present our initial findings here.