Die “grüne” elektrochemische Synthese von Periodat

Frontispiece: The “Green” Electrochemical Synthesis of Periodate

Frontispiz: Die “grüne” elektrochemische Synthese von Periodat

The “green” electrochemical synthesis of periodate

Abstract High‐grade periodate is relatively expensive, but is required for many sensitive applications such as the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients. These high costs originate from using lead dioxide anodes in contemporary electrochemical methods and from expensive starting materials. A direct and cost‐efficient electrochemical synthesis of periodate from iodide, which is less costly and relies on a readily available starting material, is reported. The oxidation is conducted at boron‐doped diamond anodes, which are durable, metal‐free, and nontoxic. The avoidance of lead dioxide ultimately lowers the cost of purification and quality assurance. The electrolytic process was opti…

The sustainable synthesis of levetiracetam by an enzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution and an ex-cell anodic oxidation

Levetiracetam is an active pharmaceutical ingredient widely used to treat epilepsy. We describe a new synthesis of levetiracetam by a dynamic kinetic resolution and a ruthenium-catalysed ex-cell anodic oxidation. For the enzymatic resolution, we tailored a high throughput screening method to identify Comamonas testosteroni nitrile hydratase variants with high (S)-selectivity and activity. Racemic nitrile was applied in a fed-batch reaction and was hydrated to (S)-(pyrrolidine-1-yl)butaneamide. For the subsequent oxidation to levetiracetam, we developed a ligand-free ruthenium-catalysed method at a low catalyst loading. The oxidant was electrochemically generated in 86% yield. This route pro…