77 – Process Chemistry: From Bench to Plant (S6E2)

Dive into the world of process chemistry, the critical discipline that bridges the gap between laboratory discoveries and commercial drug production. This episode unpacks how process chemists take reactions that work beautifully on a small scale and adapt them to the vastly different demands of industrial manufacturing. We'll explore the nuances of optimizing reaction conditions, such as temperature, pressure, and mixing, and how these factors behave differently at large scales.The discussion will center on overcoming scale-related issues. We'll illustrate how seemingly minor changes, like switching solvents or bases, can have a huge impact on yield, purity, and even safety. Real-world examples from the Organic Process Research & Development (OPR&D) journal are presented, showcasing the ingenuity and problem-solving skills of process chemists. Topics include: temperature screening, reaction kinetics, hotspots, continuous flow reactor, and exothermic decomposition.