Download Kevin Mc Quaid Project Synopsis

MEDIA STORY BANK: PROPOSALS TO RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE GSK-SINGAPORE GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIP
Projects
Novel approach
Story opportunity
CHEMICAL TRANSFORMATION
PROVIDING ACCESS TO VALUABLE
CHEMICAL BUILDING BLOCKS
THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT of SAFE
and SUSTAINABLE
DEOXYHALOGENATION REACTIONS
Principal investigator: Dr. Kevin
McQuaid
Institution: Institute of Chemical and
Engineering Sciences (ICES)
Email: [email protected]
Website
Year of Award: 2013
Over the past several decades, there has been tremendous effort by
the chemical community to develop transition metal-catalyzed crosscoupling reactions. Surprisingly, the same cannot be said for the
development of new methods to synthesize halogenated organic molecules,
the crucial building blocks used in many transition metal-catalyzed coupling
reactions.
For example, the use of phosphorous oxychloride, which was
developed over a century ago, is still the predominant means of preparing
many chlorinated heteroarenes in the pharmaceutical industry. While this
stalwart procedure has been widely implemented in manufacturing
processes, a large excess of the reagent is typically used (often serving as the
solvent), creating significant health and safety concerns due to the potential
for delayed exothermic reactions upon quenching.
Therefore, this research will aim to further develop cyclopropenium
cation-activation reactions as a strategy to provide safer deoxyhalogenation
processes. The project will also develop and evaluate strategic methods that
will facilitate the translation of cyclopropenium cation-based chemistries
towards potentially scalable applications through the use of continuous
processes and immobilized reagents.
This proposal specifically addresses Problem
#8: Deoxyhalogenation in the grant call. After
assessing existing chemical processes at GSK, the
Green Chemistry Performance Unit identified current
deoxyhalogenation methods as practices that should
be avoided due to health and safety concerns.
Outlined in this proposal are possible solutions to this
problem that are both safe and well aligned with the
principles of green and sustainable chemistry. As part
of this program, we will also evaluate specific
strategies that may facilitate the translation of this
new chemistry for use in larger scale applications.
As chemical companies continue to evaluate
and modernize manufacturing processes, the
problem of finding replacement protocols will
continue to present new challenges for chemists. This
grant will provide early-career chemists in Singapore
with valuable experience and unique skillsets so they
may be well equipped to meet these growing
demands.