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The Organocatalysis Research Group at the HUN-REN Research Center for Natural Sciences (HUN-REN RCNS) has achieved a groundbreaking advance in the efficient production of aldehydes. Their newly developed catalysts hold the potential to revolutionize safer, more efficient, and sustainable chemical processes. This development can also support greener and more sustainable agricultural practices, according to the Hungarian research network’s website.
Aldehydes are a common and popular ingredient in perfumes because of their pleasant scent. However, their use extends far beyond this, as they are essential and versatile compounds that are indispensable in several industries.
Aldehydes play a key role in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients and are becoming increasingly important components in agrochemicals.
For instance, long-chain aldehydes can be used as pheromones, providing an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional pesticides.
Despite their importance, the efficient and environmentally friendly production of aldehydes has long posed a persistent challenge in chemical research. Current methods are not only expensive and inefficient, but also subject to hazardous by-products and unusual chemical reactions.
The researchers at HUN-REN have recently made a major breakthrough in this field, as they have developed a novel family of metal-free catalysts that enable the selective and efficient conversion of esters into aldehydes with virtually no by-products.
This innovative approach is not only safer and more environmentally friendly, but also widely applicable and suitable for industrial-scale applications,
they write.
Their findings of international importance have been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), one of the leading journals in the field of chemistry. The novel catalyst developed by the Hungarian research group has attracted considerable attention from both academia and industry, as evidenced by the publication becoming one of the most-read articles in JACS within just two weeks, the HUN-REN article points out.
Working with researchers from Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) and industrial partners from Provivi and AldexChem, the team demonstrated that their breakthrough holds promise in two key application areas:
The technology was acquired by AldexChem, a company with extensive experience in fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. AldexChem further refined the process, filed several patents, and licensed the technology to its industrial partners. Remarkably, the new process went from laboratory innovation to industrial application in just two years – a rare speed in the chemical industry.
Via hun-ren.hu, Featured image: Pixabay