GreenMedChem: the challenge in the next decade toward eco-friendly compounds and processes in drug design

Carola Castiello; Pierre Junghanns; Annika Mergel; Claus Jacob; Christian Ducho; Sergio Valente; Dante Rotili; Rossella Fioravanti; Clemens Zwergel; Antonello Mai

doi:10.1039/D2GC03772F

GreenMedChem: the challenge in the next decade toward eco-friendly compounds and processes in drug design

Carola Castiello,

†^a Pierre Junghanns,

†^b Annika Mergel,

†^ac Claus Jacob,

^c Christian Ducho,

^b Sergio Valente,

^a Dante Rotili,^a Rossella Fioravanti,

*^a Clemens Zwergel

*^ac and Antonello Mai

^ad

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
E-mail: rossella.fioravanti@uniroma1.it, clemens.zwergel@uniroma1.it

^b Division of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus C 2.3, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany

^c Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus B 2.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany

^d Pasteur Institute, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy

Abstract

Green chemistry has become a hot topic and the focus of not only many companies but also researchers. Green chemistry strives to identify alternative and environmentally friendly reaction conditions and simultaneously aims to increase the rates and reduce the temperature of reactions. Specifically, the goal of green chemistry is to reduce the impact of chemical substances and processes on human health and the effective elimination of environmental pollution through dedicated sustainable prevention programs. Green chemistry is based on innovative scientific solutions to solve environmental problems that arise in the laboratory. In this review, we analyse in detail each of the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry developed by Paul Anastas in 1991, emphasising the aspects of medicinal chemistry carried out in research laboratories for the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). Here, we provide some examples of greener reactions, which can substitute the older strategies carried out by both industries and academia and offer a guide to improve the greenness of reactions. The present review highlights the methods that can be used by medicinal chemists in their daily work not only to improve the yields but also to reduce and prevent pollution, thereby protecting the environment and our health.

This article is part of the themed collection: 2023 Green Chemistry Reviews

Green Chemistry

GreenMedChem: the challenge in the next decade toward eco-friendly compounds and processes in drug design

Abstract

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