CP-STAR - Tethered catylysts: Step-change high purity manufacture of high value pharmaceutical fine chemical and biotechnology products

This industry-led project will enable new approaches to process chemistry based on advances in synthetic methods. The project investigates 'tethering' of new catalyst ligands to solid supports (such as polymer beads or porous surfaces) to prevent catalyst and reagent residues ending up in products and allow re-use and recycling. This also enables new, intensive flow manufacturing processes to be investigated. Over 3 years the project aims to take the background science through to the point of real application trials in high value manufacturing processes. The expected benefits to the chemicals, pharmaceutical and biotech sectors are: 1) compliance with regulatory metal contamination limits in drug manufacture without expensive purification processes and reducing need for plant cleaning; 2) enabling use of novel catalysts, including chemistry to avoid alkylating reagents in pharma synthesis; 3) enabling re-use of catalysts, reducing catalyst and solvent consumption, reducing use of limited specialist metal resources; 4) designing 'scaleability' and ‘recyclability’ into new catalyst systems for application in commercial processes, supporting resource and process intensification.