Design and optimization of a shared synthetic route for multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients through combined computer aided retrosynthesis and flow chemistry
The study from Rodolfo I. Teixeira and Brahim Benyahia explores the integration of SYNTHIA® Retrosynthesis Software with continuous flow chemistry to optimize synthetic pathways for multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). By utilizing Shared Path Library module of SYNTHIA, the researchers identified shared synthetic routes for 11 different APIs, employing the Hantzsch thiazole synthesis as a common reaction step. This approach not only streamlined the synthesis process but also enhanced the flexibility and scalability of production.
The optimization of these shared routes resulted in significant improvements in both economic and environmental performance. The study reported a 25% enhancement in the GreenMotion score, reflecting a reduced environmental footprint, and nearly doubled the score in the 'Process' category. This demonstrates the potential of the combined approach to facilitate greener API production.
Furthermore, the integration advanced predictive capabilities of SYNTHIA with flow chemistry allows for smarter and faster synthetic route design compared to traditional trial-and-error methods, thereby increasing overall efficiency and consistency in pharmaceutical synthesis.
Overall, the findings confirm that SYNTHIA can extend its application beyond single-target retrosynthesis to effectively perform multi-target analyses. This advancement not only optimizes reactions across various compounds with similar scaffolds but also contributes to the development of more sustainable production pathways in the pharmaceutical industry.
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Rodolfo I. Teixeira, Brahim Benyahia,
Design and optimization of a shared synthetic route for multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients through combined computer aided retrosynthesis and flow chemistry,
Chemical Engineering Research and Design, Volume 216, 2025, Pages 367-375, ISSN 0263-8762, doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2025.03.004.