Dowpharma leads the way in asymmetric hydroformylation

Dowpharma, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, has announced new capabilities in catalytic asymmetric hydroformylation (AHF) of olefins that have significant applications in the development and manufacture of pharmaceutical intermediates. AHF is a powerful technology that combines the creation of a chiral centre with the introduction of versatile aldehyde functionality. AHF is a powerful technology that combines the creation of a chiral centre with the introduction of versatile aldehyde functionality.

'Dowpharma has established a leading capability in asymmetric hydroformylation,' said business director Nick Hyde. 'Within the pharmaceutical sector, this has been an under-exploited technology with untapped opportunities for commercial applications. We anticipate a high degree of applicability for the synthesis of chiral building blocks and customer-specific intermediates for APIs.'

Among the benefits cited for AHF are:

• A more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing system that produces far less waste

• Shorter route to drug development by capitalising on versatile aldehyde functionality

• Avoidance of inefficient drug separation technology

According to the company, the challenge in AHF reactions is to achieve efficient catalysis with control of regioselectivity as well as enantioselectivity. Identifying the best match of substrate to catalyst requires access to a broad catalyst library, such as Dowpharma's. The new generation of chiral bisphosphite ligands designed at Dow is said to broaden the scope of the technology beyond vinylarene substrates. For example, highly regioselective and enantioselective processes for hydroformylation of allyl cyanide and vinyl acetate are enabled by rhodium catalysts based on Dow's new Kelliphite ligand.