πΏπ API Syntheses in Aqueous Media: Assessing the Environmental Footprint from Academic Discovery to Industrial Application
The synthesis of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in aqueous media has emerged as a transformative approach in modern process chemistry π. Traditionally, API manufacturing relies heavily on organic solvents, many of which are volatile, toxic, and environmentally hazardous. Replacing these solvents with water—a non-toxic, non-flammable, and abundantly available medium π§—offers a sustainable alternative aligned with green chemistry principles. In academic research, water-based reactions are gaining attention due to improved atom economy, safer reaction conditions, and reduced waste generation. These early-stage innovations represent a crucial step toward minimizing the environmental footprint of pharmaceutical development. As discoveries transition from laboratory scale to pilot and industrial production π, the environmental assessment becomes more complex. Metrics such as E-factor, Process Mass Intensity (PMI), carbon footprint, energy consumption, and wastewater treatment r...