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Chirotechnology: Designing economic chiral syntheses
Author(s) -
Sheldon R. A.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4660(199609)67:1<1::aid-jctb531>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - enantioselective synthesis , kinetic resolution , biochemical engineering , enantiomer , context (archaeology) , combinatorial chemistry , chemistry , chirality (physics) , naproxen , computer science , catalysis , organic chemistry , engineering , physics , chiral symmetry breaking , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , paleontology , quantum mechanics , nambu–jona lasinio model , biology , quark
The increasing awareness of the importance of chirality in the context of biological activity has stimulated a growing demand for efficient methods for the industrial synthesis of pure enantiomers. Various methodologies for the synthesis of pure enantiomers, viz. use of the chiral pool, separation of racemates via crystallization techniques or enzymatic kinetic resolution and catalytic asymmetric synthesis are reviewed and compared. Factors which influence the process economics and, hence, route selection are discussed. In particular the merits and limitations of catalytic asymmetric synthesis versus kinetic resolution are delineated. General guidelines are elaborated regarding the design of economic chiral syntheses and are illustrated by reference to the manufacture of commercially important chiral drugs, e.g. ampicillin and amoxycillin side‐chains, naproxen and ibuprofen, captopril and diltiazem. Given the rapidly growing repertoire of cost‐effective technologies, the industrial synthesis of chiral pharmaceuticals in enantiomerically pure form is clearly an economically viable proposition. Moreover, as understanding of the general principles involved provides a sound basis for identifying the most attractive process.