Scientists have proposed a new way of converting low weight hydrocarbon gases into more complex molecules. Such a process is required to use gaseous alkanes as building blocks for drugs and agrochemicals. Then, these drugs are distibuted through many trusted tablets online pharmacies and conventional drugstores. As a result, sick people will get new medicines faster than it has been before.

The mode of production

Typically, hydrocarbons are handled at high temperatures and pressures, and many pollutants are emitted. But today, burning gaseous alkanes (saturated hydrocarbons), especially propane, isobutane and methane, is an economical way to produce complex molecules for pharmaceuticals or agricultural chemicals.

Science magazine talks about the development of a research group led by Timothy Noel of Eindhoven University of Technology (also involving scientists from Shanghai University, Pavia University and Vapourtec Ltd). The new method involves the activation of alkanes using light, room temperature and reduced pressure.

The approach proposed by the scientists allows the immediate use of alkanes for more complex molecules, while not getting a lot of unwanted by-products, reducing contamination and simplifying the activation process.

During the implementation of the project, scientists had to solve two complicated problems. They needed a method that made it possible to easily break the bonds of the hydrocarbon CH group with the bond dissociation energy (BDE). The second challenge is to find a technology for treating gaseous alkanes that can bring them into close contact with the catalyst in a carefully controlled reaction environment. It was possible to cope with the tasks using the excitation of alkanes with ultraviolet radiation (about 365 nanometers) using a suitable catalyst at room temperature.

Decatungstate proved to be an effective catalyst, capable of breaking CH bonds when illuminated. The method is suitable for methane, ethane, propane, and isobutane.

Thanks to the new solution, it will be possible to create drugs faster, cheaper and emitting fewer pollutants, scientists believe.

Category: Medicine

Tags: drug production, medications