New ligands from Degussa
operating as part of the Degussa chemical group, introduced a new
family of ligands at the CPhI meeting.
The catASium T family consists of a series of patent-pending ligands for the production of enantiomerically pure substances used in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
The ligand family is particularly directed at enantioselective hydrogenation reactions, one of the key routes for the manufacture of chiral drugs, and specifically for the hydrogenation of poorly substituted enamides and beta amino acid precursors.
CatASium T is based on terpenes like camphor, which makes its production very easy and accessible. DHC worked with TatChemicals of Russia to develop and characterise the new ligands. The process took 12 months and made use of catalyst screening technologies.
Samples of the CatASium family can be obtained from Strem Chemicals for research purposes, but DHC has also manufactured large quantities of catASium T and is now selling it commercially.
DHC was formed by Degussa's Creavis Technologies & Innovation unit in January 2004 with the express aim of developing and marketing new catalyst systems, and its product range already includes ligand and metal-complex catalysts for asymmetrical synthesis (catASium M, catASium D and catASium T) and for palladium-catalysed coupling reactions (cataCXium A, cataCXium C and cataCXium P).
"Of the countless numbers of ligands researched for homogeneous catalysis in industry and academia, only a few have been available in commercial quantities," said DHC, which said its aim was to close this gap.
Chiral homogenous catalysts are particularly important for the pharmaceuticals industry, as they significantly improve the synthesis of new intermediates and ingredients.
