Molecular-level understanding in industrial syntheses
Aldehydes are essential and versatile compounds that are indispensable in many industries. They play a key role in producing pharmaceutical active ingredients, among others, but are also becoming increasingly important in agrochemistry. Long-chain aldehydes can be used as pheromones, offering an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional pesticides. Despite their high importance, the efficient and environmentally friendly production of aldehydes is challenging due to the significant by-product formation.
In a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), János Daru's research team investigated the cause of critical side reactions in developing a new aldehyde synthesis in collaboration with HUN-REN researchers. The new family of metal-free catalysts developed in the HUN-REN Organocatalysis Group allows for the fully selective, efficient conversion of esters to aldehydes with virtually no by-product formation. High-precision local correlation calculations by Balázs Bence Mészáros and János Daru provided an interpretation of the advantages of the new catalysts over conventional ones. The study revealed that the side reaction, which is crucial for selectivity, takes place in a previously unknown pathway, effectively inhibited by the new catalysts.
The selective process has enabled the more efficient synthesis of a key component of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine via long-chain aldehydes. Beyond the pharmaceutical industry, the process has also had an impact in the agricultural sector: the US company Provivi has demonstrated that the new catalyst enables the industrial synthesis of high-priority pesticide pheromones (against rice pests) on a scale of up to half a tonne, offering an environmentally friendly solution to replace harmful chemical pesticides. Since its publication, the paper has attracted huge interest, becoming the most-read article of the month in JACS with more than 16,000 downloads2,3, reflecting the discovery's importance and direct relevance to academia and industry.
The original publication:
- Dávid Papp, Konrad Bernhard, Otte Sergio Ayala Jr., János Daru, József Répási, Tibor Soós: Selective Reduction of Esters to Access Aldehydes Using Fiddler Crab-Type Boranes. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 1112–1122.
- https://axial.acs.org/cross-disciplinary-concepts/trending-research-10-most-read-chemistry-articles-of-december-2024
- https://pubs.acs.org/action/showMostReadArticles?journalCode=jacsat
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