Chiral licence extended for Dow

Dowpharma, a business unit of Dow Chemical Company, has had a licence extension granted for pressure hydrogenation and the transfer hydrogenation catalysts.

The catalysts were introduced by Nobel Laureate Professor Ryoji Noyori and Professor Takao Ikariya via the Japanese Science and Technology Corporation (JST). These hydrogenation technologies are rapidly establishing themselves as the superior methods for cost-effective commercial-scale manufacture of single enantiomer aryl and allyl alcohols.

This is due to the excellent activity and selectivity the catalyst produces, and process conditions that are readily scaled-up (only moderate pressure and temperatures are required), minimal waste streams and straightforward reaction work-up.

'This licence extension allows Dowpharma to support our customers' projects by practicing this technology at full commercial scale,' said Nick Hyde, business director, Dowpharma. 'The hydrogenation catalysts have a wide range of applicability and enhance the speed of development of chiral compounds. The technology has demonstrated superior results as we've scaled up from lab to pilot plant to commercial production.'

Professor Ikariya added: 'It is always good when breakthrough chemistry that has been developed in an academic environment starts to add value in the commercial environment. It is made more special in this case when these technologies are used to produce a new generation of complex medicines that will improve the quality of lives of thousands of people around the world.'

Dowpharma's agent for Japan, CBC Corporation, played a pivotal role in securing the extension of this technology from Chirotech Technology Limited for Dowpharma's pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in Midland, Michigan.