Illuminating a Path4914. Copyright 2016 Wiley for Organic Synthesis Towards Sustainability. No One Said It Would Be Easy…

Abstract

A personalized account is presented describing some of the stories behind the scenes in efforts to convert organic chemistry into a more sustainable discipline. These are part of a group ‘crusade’ started almost 15 years ago aimed at providing technologies illustrative of how key reactions used today can be ‘faster, better, cheaper’ when run in recyclable water. Hence, the option now exists to do organic synthesis in a far more environmentally responsible fashion. By contrast, most of organic chemistry developed over the past 200 years that relies on organic solvents continues to generate enormous amounts of pollution, while depleting finite petroleum reserves and our supplies of many precious and base metals. Making the switch to water, Nature’s chosen reaction medium, akin to that in which bio-catalysis is typically performed, is inevitable.1 The Story Begins: A Different Type of Prejudice2 Are We up to the Challenge? Too Late Now…3 ‘Impossible’ Reactive Metal Chemistry in Water4 Didn’t I Once Say: ‘It’s All about the Ligand’?5 What Happens When Our Supply of Palladium Runs Out?6 What Are the Implications from These Tales for Today and Tomorrow?7 What Is the ‘Broader Impact’ of This Work?8 The Bottom Line…

Replacement of Less-Preferred Dipolar Aprotic and Ethereal Solvents in Synthetic Organic Chemistry with More Sustainable Alternatives

“…Support for these endeavors will also have to come from top levels of organizations to stand a chance of becoming policy and not just personal choice. To quote from Bruce Lipshutz, “the “business as usual” mentality is no longer appropriate” …”

“…The aim of this section is to introduce the reader to some of the cutting edge research in the field of organic synthesis in aqueous-micellar systems. It also serves to demonstrate that water does not have to be the enemy of the organic chemist but a powerful ally . For further details, an excellent review discussing the challenges and opportunities faced by aqueous-micellar organic synthesis was published in 2021 in collaboration with Novartis (Gallou et al) …”

“…It also serves to demonstrate that water does not have to be the enemy of the organic chemist but a powerful ally. 234 For further details, an excellent review discussing the challenges and opportunities faced by aqueous-micellar organic synthesis was published in 2021 in collaboration with Novartis (Gallou et al). 235 2.15.1.…”

Organic synthesis in Aqueous Multiphase Systems — Challenges and opportunities ahead of us

“…While there seems to be here controlled on the compartmentalization effect, one can hardly envision a genuine nano-effect rather than a micro-effect here. These observations seem to correlate with the slightly higher need in metal catalyst required to achieve full conversion in comparison to genuine micellar catalysis that can be observed to proceed at the ppm level under very mild reaction temperatures [55]. This does not detract from the merits of this approach and even bodes well for the future when a better understanding of the system exists, leading to alternative designs that are more optimal.…”

Comment on “Photoinduced Protocol for Aerobic Oxidation of Aldehydes to Carboxylic Acids under Mild Conditions”

“…Solvents typically constitute the major mass fraction used to manufacture Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). , Thus, it is not surprising that there is a demand for greener and more sustainable alternatives for legacy solvents. To meet this demand, several solvent selection guides have been published where the use of water is recommended. , Furthermore, a review and inspiring perspectives − have promoted the switch from organic solvents to water-based reaction mediums. In this context, Li et al recently published the photocatalyzed aerobic oxidation of benzaldehyde into benzoic acid using water as solvent.…”