Biocatalysis Technology to Improve Atomic Economy

Atomic economy and the 5 “R” principle are the core content of green chemistry technology. The 5 “R” principle refers to Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, Regeneration and Rejection. Atomic economy refers to the full use of each atom in the reactant, thereby It can make full use of resources and prevent pollution. The use of biocatalysis technology can significantly improve atom economy.

In the research and development of chemical processes, green chemistry technology uses non-toxic reaction materials and catalysts, pursues atomic economy, and reduces additional waste products during the reaction process to achieve full utilization of reaction raw materials. In the chemical reaction process, most chemical reactions require catalysts to implement. The production of catalysts is often a process of creating environmental pollution. Therefore, the development of environmentally friendly catalysts is a very important direction.

Biocatalysis refers to the process of chemical transformation using enzymes or biological organisms (whole cells, organelles, tissues, etc.) as catalysts, and is also called biological transformation. Biocatalysis (enzyme) is usually used to prepare molecules with two or more hand-shaped centers or to prepare intermediates that cannot be selectively chemically converted from simple precursors.

Green chemistry technology can use chemical technology and methods to reduce or eliminate the production and application of raw materials, solvents, reagents, products, and by-products that are harmful to human health or the environment. Medicilon’s Process Department is mainly engaged in the research and development, process optimization and large-scale production of pre-clinical new drugs, newly listed APIs, generic drugs and intermediates from GMP standards. Medicilon integrates the concept of “green chemistry” into the exploration and design of the process and the production process, and puts enzyme chemistry and continuous reaction technology into the process synthesis. Moreover, in the exploration of synthetic pathways, Medicilon also tried to avoid high temperature and high pressure reaction conditions, avoid the generation of toxic waste, and practice “green chemistry” from the design concept. “

Generally, enzyme-catalyzed processes have the advantages of short processing time, fewer reaction steps, and low by-product content. Enzyme and biocatalysis technologies have become mature technologies in the chemical and pharmaceutical fields for the preparation of various chemicals. Biocatalysis technology has excellent stereoselectivity, chemical and regioselectivity, and mild reaction conditions. It can avoid side reactions such as isomerization, racemization and rearrangement in traditional synthesis, reduce harmful heavy metals and excessive metal catalysts and act as a reaction The use of organic solvents in the medium and separation and purification of products can significantly improve the atom economy and reduce the environmental factors of the process. Biocatalysis technology has accelerated the development of green chemistry technology and is one of the important trends in the development of green chemistry and green chemical engineering.

In order to minimize the impact on the environment and processing costs, the total cost of reagents and production efficiency is considered together on the basis of atomic economy. Sometimes, the most atomically economical reagents exhibit poor physicochemical or toxicological properties or do not possess the expected reaction selectivity or reactivity. So when choosing reagents, all subsequent effects must be considered.

The advantage of biocatalysis technology is that it can be carried out in water, at room temperature, with few or no protective groups; the disadvantages are low reaction stability, high cost, sometimes poor stereoselectivity and low reaction concentration. Some enzyme reactions can also be carried out in organic solvents. At present, the utility of biocatalysis technology in pharmaceutical and chemical industry continues to expand, and it has broad application and market prospects in the development of green chemical technology and API biocatalysis technology.