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Application of Green Chemistry in the Synthesis of Ibuprofen
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What is Ibuprofen?
The Synthesis of Ibuprofen
And it's Application of Green Chemistry
Ibuprofen is a commonly used anti-inflammatory drug used for pain relief.
History
It was discovered in 1961 by Dr Stewart Adams, a pharmacologist working for the Boots UK Limited company. It was originally named Brufen.
History
Traditional synthesis
Boot's synthesis
The original way of synthesizing Ibuprofen was a 6 step synthesis that starts from benzene.
This original synthesis has many flaws.
Waste material
The Boot's synthesis of ibuprofen generates many kinds of waste during its 6 steps.
Waste material
Aluminium disposal in Boots' synthesis
Aluminium
waste
In the first step of Boots’ synthesis of ibuprofen, aluminium chloride (AlCl3) is used as a catalyst. However, at the end of the first step, it is not reusable as a usual catalyst because it is turned into aluminium chloride hydrate, and since AlCl3 is used in stoichiometric amount, the byproduct is all disposed after the reaction, mostly in landfills.
Aluminium disposal in Boots' synthesis
Aluminium leaking from landfills
Landfills cells contain a liquid called leachate and produced when waste soaks in water. That leachate often leaks.
Aluminium chloride hydrate that is landfilled after traditional ibuprofen synthesis can then leak and goes to the soil and ground water.
Landfills aluminium effects on the environment
Aluminium compounds damage plant roots making them thick, short, brittle and slow growing. It has been claimed by Urich et al. (1980) that aluminium might be one of the causes of forest decline in central Europe.
Environmental effects
Health effects of aluminium coumpounds
Health effects
Aluminium is a common element on earth, but at unusual doses it can be dangerous for health and may cause the following deceases :
- Lung damage
- Central nervous system damage
- Loss of memory
Atom economy
The BHC green synthesis
BHC's green synthesis
In the mid-1980s, the BHC company developed a green way to produce Ibuprofen that only involves 3 steps
rather than 6 and 4 reagents rather
than 7. This synthesis in fact implicates many green chemistry principles.
Atom economy
Waste material
The BHC's synthesis significantly reduces the amount of waste when comparing to the Boot's synthesis; it only produces waste material in the first step.
Waste material
Catalysis
Reusable catalysts.
The BHC company synthesis involves catalysts that are unchanged at the end of reaction and that can therefore be reused for other reactions rather than being disposed.
In the first step of the BHC synthesis, the involved catalyst is hydrogen fluoride HF, that is unchanged and reused at the end of the process.
Different catalysts
In the second step of the BHC synthesis, the involved catalyst is In the third step of the BHC synthesis, the involved catalyst is Raney Nickel, that is recovered and reused repeatedly:
In the third step of the BHC synthesis, the involved catalyst is palladium Pd, that is also recovered and reused:
Conclusion
In conclusion, the synthesis of ibuprofen can be greatly enhanced with the use of green chemistry.
Conclusion
Brief comparison
Summarized comparison between
Boots' synthesis and green synthesis
BHC and Boots synthesis waste material
Waste
Atom economy
Boots' synthesis has an atom economy of 40%. By producing 30 million lbs of ibuprofen each year, we produce over 35 million lbs of waste.
The BHC synthesis has an atom economy of 77%. By producing 30 million lbs of ibuprofen each year only by that method, we would prevent over 26 million lbs of waste every year.
Catalysts
Boots' synthesis involves a single catalyst, AlCl3, that is turned into aluminium chloride hydrate, whicj is then landfilled.
BHC synthesis involves palladium Pd, hydrogen fluoride HF, and Raney nickel as catalysts, which are recovered and reusable for other reactions.