Towards 4th industrial revolution efficient and sustainable continuous flow manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients

Continuous flow chemistry has opened a new paradigm in both the laboratory and pharmaceutical industry. This review details the recently reported literature on continuous multistep telescoped synthesis of active pharmaceutical...

Continuous flow technology-A tool for safer oxidation chemistry

The oxidation reaction is one of the most important transformations in synthetic chemistry, allowing for the introduction and modification of various functional groups. Continuous flow chemistry involving the use of...

Perspective on the application of continuous flow chemistry for polymer-based organic electronics

Continuous flow chemistry offers a fast entry to commercial production for innovative polymers of diverse nature. A field that could hugely benefit from this gateway is organic electronics. For some...

Continuous Flow Synthesis of Anticancer Drugs

Continuous flow chemistry is by now an established and valued synthesis technology regularly exploited in academic and industrial laboratories to bring about the improved preparation of a variety of molecular structures. Benefits such as better heat and mass transfer, improved process control and safety, a small equipment footprint, as well as the ability to integrate in-line analysis and purification tools into telescoped sequences are often cited when comparing flow to analogous batch processes. In this short review, the latest developments regarding the exploitation of continuous flow protocols towards the synthesis of anticancer drugs are evaluated. Our efforts focus predominately on the period of 2016–2021 and highlight key case studies where either the final active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or its building blocks were produced continuously. It is hoped that this manuscript will serve as a useful synopsis showcasing the impact of continuous flow chemistry towards the generation of important anticancer drugs.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Ibuprofen and Naproxen

Herein, we review the recent progress in the synthesis of representative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ibuprofen and naproxen. Although these drugs were discovered over 50 years ago, novel practical and asymmetric approaches are still being developed for their synthesis. In addition, this endeavor has enabled access to more potent and selective derivatives from the key frameworks of ibuprofen and naproxen. The development of a synthetic route to ibuprofen and naproxen over the last 10 years is summarized, including developing methodologies, finding novel synthetic routes, and applying continuous-flow chemistry.

Evaluating the Green Credentials of Flow Chemistry towards Industrial Applications

Continuous flow chemistry is becoming an established technology platform that finds frequent application in industrial chemical manufacture with support and endorsements by the FDA for pharmaceuticals. Amongst the various advantages that are commonly cited for flow chemistry over batch processing, sustainability continues to require further advances and joint efforts by chemists and chemical engineers in both academia and industry. This short review highlights developments within the last 5 years that positively impact on the green credentials associated with flow chemistry, specifically when applied to the preparation of pharmaceuticals. An industrial perspective on current challenges is provided to whet discussion and stimulate further investment towards achieving greener modern synthetic technologies.