Quick and easy phenol synthesis
Modern chemical synthesis is a multi-billion dollar industry that relies on thousands of different expensive and time-consuming reactions to produce various pharmaceuticals and other chemicals. Any chemical reactions that could lower the cost of synthesis are highly sought after by researchers and industry alike. The EU-funded METACHARYL (Tandem catalysis: New processes for meta-selective functionalization of arenes) project developed one such type of reaction, using carbon dioxide to functionalise certain starting molecules into useful compounds. METACHARYL developed a process known as arylation to functionalise phenols (a common starting compound). This is the first time that scientists have been able to do this in a single reaction step. To demonstrate the value of this process, researchers synthesised a gamma-secretase inhibitor molecule in 3 steps, with a yield of 41 %. The current patented process takes 8 steps, with a 6 % yield. However, the new process does require high pressure and temperature to function. Another part of the project used this new type of reaction to manufacture salicylic acids (such as aspirin). METACHARYL could use cheaper catalysts for this reaction, and demonstrated the versatility of the new method. These findings will have a major impact on chemical synthesis, making it cheaper and quicker to manufacture vast numbers of compounds. The initiative will also result in a more sustainable industry.
