Developing New Surfactants for Easy Separation
Martin Andersson, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), $25,000
“Developing New Surfactants for Easy Separation”
Author: Christiana Briddell
Improved synthesis of nucleotide blockmers using a precipitative soluble
2020 Grant Winner: Pasi Virta, University of Turku, $50,000
Pasi Virta, Ph.D., professor of bio-organics at the University of Turku, Finland, has been awarded $50,000 for his research titled “Improved synthesis of nucleotide blockmers using a precipitative soluble.” This research addresses the Roundtable’s goal to optimize oligonucleotide technology and address the environmental challenge of current oligonucleotide manufacturing.
Develop membranes for pressure-driven separation of solutes and solvents in the 50-600 Da range from API synthesis mixtures
Kamalesh K. Sirkar, New Jersey Institute of Technology, $50,000
“Develop membranes for pressure-driven separation of solutes and solvents in the 50-600 Da range from API synthesis mixtures”
Bioinspired Metal-Organic Frameworks as Heterogeneous Catalysts for Peptide Synthesis
Tristan Lambert & Phillip Milner, Cornell University, $50,000
“Bioinspired Metal-Organic Frameworks as Heterogeneous Catalysts for Peptide Synthesis”
Green Chemistry Articles of Interest to the Pharmaceutical Industry – April 2020
Green Chemistry Articles of Interest to the Pharmaceutical Industry; Marie-Gabrielle Braun, Oliver Engl, Kenneth Fraunhoffer, John Hayler, Matthew Hickey, Jonathan Latham, Lucie E. Lovelle, Mark McLaws, Paul Richardson, Philipp C. Roosen, Alan Steven, Jack A. Terrett, Timothy White, Jingjun Yin. Org. Process Res. Dev. 2020, 24, 6, 897–908. DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.0c00154
Greener Manufacturing of Belzutifan Featuring a Photo-Flow Bromination
2021 Peter J. Dunn Award for Green Chemistry & Engineering Impact in the Pharmaceutical Industry
A team from Merck, Stephen Dalby, François Lévesque, Cecilia Bottecchia and Jonathan McMullen, recieved the 2021 Peter J. Dunn Award for their innovation, “Greener Manufacturing of Belzutifan (MK-6482) Featuring a Photo-Flow Bromination.”
Belzutifan is an important new drug used in the treatment of cancer and other non-oncology diseases. Acquired by Merck in 2019 through the purchase of Peloton Therapeutics, a new, greener manufacturing process for its synthesis was needed. Over the next 18 months, the team developed a more direct route from commodity chemical to API, employed new reaction conditions, particularly in the oxidation sequence, and incorporated new technology, photo-flow.
Despite this accelerated timeline, the team achieved a five-fold improvement in overall yield with a commensurate 73% reduction in process mass intensity (PMI) compared to the original route. Notably, the Merck team also developed a visible light-initiated radical bromination performed in flow. According to the L.-C. Campeau, Executive Director and Head of Process Chemistry and Discovery Process Chemistry at Merck, this is the “first example of a photo-flow reaction run on manufacturing scale at Merck and represents the linchpin of the synthesis.”
The improved process for Belzutifan, which is expected to launch this year, will reduce the waste associated with its manufacture and is aligned with Merck’s corporate sustainability goals.
“The Merck team delivered an excellent example of the application of innovative technologies to develop a more sustainable synthesis of the pharmaceutically-active compound, Belzutifan,” comments Paul Richardson, Director of Oncology and Chemical Synthesis at Pfizer and Co-Chair of the ACS GCI Pharmaceutical Roundtable. “Using the guiding principles of green chemistry, for example, in the use of catalysis and a relatively benign reaction media, further illustrate the Merck team’s work as worthy of recognition for the 2021 Peter Dunn Award.”
More about the Award
The Peter J. Dunn Award, established in 2016, recognizes outstanding industrial implementation of novel green chemistry and/or engineering in the pharmaceutical industry that demonstrates compelling environmental, safety, cost, and/or efficiency improvements over current technologies.
This annual award is presented at the Green Chemistry & Engineering Confernece where presenters are invited to share their innovations.