Scalable and sustainable reductive amidation of nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, and nitroalkyls with acyl saccharins in aqueous media

Abstract Amide bond formation is essential in both organic and medicinal chemistry, however, most existing methods present poor ecological efficiency. Here, we report a scalable and sustainable method for synthesizing N-substituted amides from nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, nitroalkyls, and acyl sacchar...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sunil L. Khamkar, Rayala Mohan, J. Santhosh, Harish M. Shinde, Kishor L. Handore, S. Venkata Mohan, D. Srinivasa Reddy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Communications Chemistry
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01464-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849335678181048320
author Sunil L. Khamkar
Rayala Mohan
J. Santhosh
Harish M. Shinde
Kishor L. Handore
S. Venkata Mohan
D. Srinivasa Reddy
author_facet Sunil L. Khamkar
Rayala Mohan
J. Santhosh
Harish M. Shinde
Kishor L. Handore
S. Venkata Mohan
D. Srinivasa Reddy
author_sort Sunil L. Khamkar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Amide bond formation is essential in both organic and medicinal chemistry, however, most existing methods present poor ecological efficiency. Here, we report a scalable and sustainable method for synthesizing N-substituted amides from nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, nitroalkyls, and acyl saccharin in aqueous media. This atom-efficient approach avoids column chromatography, offers high yield, and is compatible with various functional groups. It is applicable to synthesize Dispyrin, a bromopyrrole alkaloid, amide-based drugs, and agrochemicals, including paracetamol, with solvent and saccharin recycling. A comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA; ISO 14044) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts and sustainability of nine Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) produced via Amidation Route (AR) and Saccharin Amidation Route (SAR). The study shows SAR methods reduce carbon footprints and environmental impacts compared to AR methods, being carbon-negative and resource-efficient. Additional reductions can be achieved through saccharin recycling and the integration of renewable energy sources, demonstrating saccharin-based processes potential to minimize environmental burdens in pharmaceutical synthesis.
format Article
id doaj-art-6201bedc188f41a9b9213fc00722a85a
institution Kabale University
issn 2399-3669
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Communications Chemistry
spelling doaj-art-6201bedc188f41a9b9213fc00722a85a2025-08-20T03:45:11ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Chemistry2399-36692025-06-018111510.1038/s42004-025-01464-8Scalable and sustainable reductive amidation of nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, and nitroalkyls with acyl saccharins in aqueous mediaSunil L. Khamkar0Rayala Mohan1J. Santhosh2Harish M. Shinde3Kishor L. Handore4S. Venkata Mohan5D. Srinivasa Reddy6Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering (DEEE), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT)Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)BASF Innovation Campus Mumbai, BASF Chemicals India Pvt. Ltd.Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)Abstract Amide bond formation is essential in both organic and medicinal chemistry, however, most existing methods present poor ecological efficiency. Here, we report a scalable and sustainable method for synthesizing N-substituted amides from nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, nitroalkyls, and acyl saccharin in aqueous media. This atom-efficient approach avoids column chromatography, offers high yield, and is compatible with various functional groups. It is applicable to synthesize Dispyrin, a bromopyrrole alkaloid, amide-based drugs, and agrochemicals, including paracetamol, with solvent and saccharin recycling. A comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA; ISO 14044) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts and sustainability of nine Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) produced via Amidation Route (AR) and Saccharin Amidation Route (SAR). The study shows SAR methods reduce carbon footprints and environmental impacts compared to AR methods, being carbon-negative and resource-efficient. Additional reductions can be achieved through saccharin recycling and the integration of renewable energy sources, demonstrating saccharin-based processes potential to minimize environmental burdens in pharmaceutical synthesis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01464-8
spellingShingle Sunil L. Khamkar
Rayala Mohan
J. Santhosh
Harish M. Shinde
Kishor L. Handore
S. Venkata Mohan
D. Srinivasa Reddy
Scalable and sustainable reductive amidation of nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, and nitroalkyls with acyl saccharins in aqueous media
Communications Chemistry
title Scalable and sustainable reductive amidation of nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, and nitroalkyls with acyl saccharins in aqueous media
title_full Scalable and sustainable reductive amidation of nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, and nitroalkyls with acyl saccharins in aqueous media
title_fullStr Scalable and sustainable reductive amidation of nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, and nitroalkyls with acyl saccharins in aqueous media
title_full_unstemmed Scalable and sustainable reductive amidation of nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, and nitroalkyls with acyl saccharins in aqueous media
title_short Scalable and sustainable reductive amidation of nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, and nitroalkyls with acyl saccharins in aqueous media
title_sort scalable and sustainable reductive amidation of nitroarenes nitroalkenes and nitroalkyls with acyl saccharins in aqueous media
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01464-8
work_keys_str_mv AT sunillkhamkar scalableandsustainablereductiveamidationofnitroarenesnitroalkenesandnitroalkylswithacylsaccharinsinaqueousmedia
AT rayalamohan scalableandsustainablereductiveamidationofnitroarenesnitroalkenesandnitroalkylswithacylsaccharinsinaqueousmedia
AT jsanthosh scalableandsustainablereductiveamidationofnitroarenesnitroalkenesandnitroalkylswithacylsaccharinsinaqueousmedia
AT harishmshinde scalableandsustainablereductiveamidationofnitroarenesnitroalkenesandnitroalkylswithacylsaccharinsinaqueousmedia
AT kishorlhandore scalableandsustainablereductiveamidationofnitroarenesnitroalkenesandnitroalkylswithacylsaccharinsinaqueousmedia
AT svenkatamohan scalableandsustainablereductiveamidationofnitroarenesnitroalkenesandnitroalkylswithacylsaccharinsinaqueousmedia
AT dsrinivasareddy scalableandsustainablereductiveamidationofnitroarenesnitroalkenesandnitroalkylswithacylsaccharinsinaqueousmedia