Green chemistry atom-efficient methods

The teaching was divided in basic themes i.e Atom economy. Industrial Processes, Alternative Solvents, New Feedstocks and Products, New Reactions and New Synthetic Methods. In addition topics related to current research in Green Chemistry were addressed with the aim to familiarize the students with the strategies behind the planning and designing of efficient and "greener synthetic routes. 

One of the advantages of the methodology is that it provides new effective methods to build a variety of chemical bonds. Secondly, direct nucleophiUc attack at C(sp )-H carbon enables one to avoid toxic chlorine-containing intermediates and to carry out chemical processes according to the principles of green chemistry, such as atom efficiency, preference for a shorter scheme of synthesis, waste prevention, use of less hazardous chemicals, and others [7,43],... 

In 1997, the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Greener Synthetic PathwaysAward was given to BHC Company (now BASF) for a novel method of ibuprofen synthesis.The new process consists of three catalytic steps, with the only byproduct being acetic acid, and has overall atom efficiency of about 80%. Since the acetic acid byproduct does not end up in the waste but is recovered, the process can be considered virtually 99% atom efficient. The older process, replaced by the award-winning one, consisted of six stoichiometric steps with an overall atom efficiency of less than 40%. 

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