Synetix signs licence with Aventis Pharma
UK-based catalyst specialist Synetix, part of ICI, has signed an exclusive technology licence agreement with Aventis Pharma, of Germany. The deal covers Synetix's enantioselective ferrocenyl phosphine ligand, JAFAPhos.
Synetix recently formed a new business unit, Synetix Chiral Technologies, to commercialise new technologies for the high growth asymmetric synthesis sector. JAFAPhos is expected to play an important role in the company's strategy of developing a broad and coherent asymmetric hydrogenation technology platform. As well as applying this technology to customer projects in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical market, Synetix Chiral Technologies says it plans to develop an economical and saleable route to the JAFAPhos ligand.