The Journey of a Catalyst | Catalysis on Scale - Development of a Iridium-Crabtree/Pfaltz Type Catalyst for Asymmetric Hydrogenation

The manifold aspects in the development of an asymmetric hydrogenation applied on industrial scale are illustrated. Process related parameters for the hydrogenation and scale-up of a new Ir-Crabtree/Pfaltz type catalyst are discussed.

The combination of a diversified catalyst library with a expertized high throughput screening (HTS) approach enabled initial lead identification. Collaborations between academia and industry partners successfully refined the catalyst structure further to achieve industrial relevant performance of the catalytic system. The production of the catalyst was realized involving two transition-metal catalyzed steps including an HTS optimized asymmetric transfer hydrogenation that gave access to the ligand backbone in excellent enantioselectivity. Catalyst production was swiftly scaled and performance in the asymmetric hydrogenation demonstrated on kg amounts profiting from the close collaboration of catalysis and synthesis experts in the Product & Manufacturing Service unit at Solvias.

This webinar was presented by Dr Achim Link, Leading Scientist Catalysis, Solvias AG

About our speaker:

Achim Link received his MSc-degree in the Sparr Group (Univ. Basel) and was involved in launching the group’s first research project. He remained for his PhD studies focusing on bifunctional organometallic reagents. A fellowship from the ‘Camille & Henry Dreyfus’ Foundation and an Early Postdoc Mobility fellowship from the ‘Swiss Nat. Science Foundation’ allowed him to join Prof. Buchwald at MIT investigating CuH-catalyzed reactions. In 2020, he joined Solvias as a project leader. In June 2022, Achim took over the lead of the catalysis team at Solvias and joined the steering committee of the business unit Products & Manufacturing Services.