Emerging trends in synthesis of drugs and fine chemicals

Although, the discovery process for a pharmaceutical product requires management of various biological sciences and organic synthesis, but once a compound has satisfied therapeutic requirements and safety standards, the science involved is essentially organic synthesis, i.e. large-scale manufacture of the compound. Since, any synthesis/manufacture in todayʹs context ought to be green, should not pollute the environment, has to be cost-effective, adheres to safety standards and gives preference for specific stereoisomers, the synthetic scheme one intends to adopt must satisfy and conform to these requirements. A paradigm shift is taking place on how one develops a strategy for synthesis of complex molecules like drugs and fine chemicals. However, many of the syntheses fall short of the requirements. This article reviews the advancement that is taking place in the area of organic synthesis, wherein the modern requirements such as syntheses ; (a) achieved in one step, (b) utilising non-hazardous and non-toxic chemicals, (c) which are resource efficient, (d) which are essentially free of solvents and (e) which are enatiosclective are described with specific examples from the drugs and fine chemicals sector.