Maurizio Benaglia

Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy

Title: Flow chemistry, organoatalysis and 3D-printing: Valuable tools in the synthesis of chiral compounds

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Biography

Maurizio Benaglia is Full Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. He is currently Director of ISPROCHEM, International School of Process Chemistry and member of the Scientific Committee of IASOC (Int Advanced School of Organic Synthesis). Author of more than 210 papers, his research interests deal with the development of innovative synthetic methodologies, new chiral catalysts, synthesis of pharmaceutically active compounds, taking advantage of enabling technologies (flow chemistry, microwave, alternative solvents).

Abstract

Recently developed organocatalytic stereoselective transformations using polymer-based packed bed and catalytic reactors will be presented. Furthermore, the use of different bifunctional chiral metal-free catalysts in micro- and mesofluidic devices will be described. The potential of this flow chemistry approach was demonstrated by the successful synthesis of an advanced intermediate for the preparation of the GABA_B receptor agonist Baclofen and other Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) such as (S)-Pregabalin and (S)-Warfarin.

Additionally, considering that now 3D-printing technology allows chemists to build devices with high precision and well-defined architecture, an in-house designed, 3D-printed reactors were realised and used for the catalytic synthesis of biologically active compounds.

A recently published continuous flow approach to access ?-trifluoromethylthiolated esters and amides using commercially available arylacetic acids and N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide as the electrophilic reagent will be also described.