New way to make potential antibiotics discovered
Sulfonamides are a functional chemical group found in antibiotics, antidiuretics and various other medicines. They are expensive and difficult to produce, prompting researchers to investigate cheaper and simpler methods to create sulphonamides. The EU-funded project 'The catalytic synthesis of sulfonamides' (SULFONAMIDES) investigated several such methods. Researchers specifically looked to make sulfonamide synthesis less complex, using milder conditions and readily available precursors. First, researchers designed the overall system, and optimised it by adjusting various parameters like the catalyst, reaction temperature and source of sulphur dioxide. This approach did not, however, yield any sulfonamide product. SULFONAMIDES then investigated a different set of starting materials; unfortunately, this approach also failed to yield any useful products. Finally, the project tested another alternative approach, which converted common N-aminosulfonamides into sulfonamides. This approach was a success in that it required only mild reaction conditions and no catalyst, making the process cheaper and more environmentally friendly. The research carried out by SULFONAMIDES is vital to improve the sustainability and cost effectiveness of sulfonamide synthesis. This work will contribute to cheaper drug manufacture and thus improved well-being in general.
