Continuous Flow Synthesis of Medicines

Continuous flow chemistry¹ is a useful approach for automated reaction optimization² and the modular assembly of active pharmaceutical ingredients.³ A fully automated platform to prepare many essential medicines in a radial synthesizer has been developed.⁴ The method was applied to the synthesis of medications in short supply during the COVID-19 pandemic.⁵ The synthesis of the anti-malaria drug artemisinin and its derivatives is used to illustrate the principle.⁶ This complex molecule was prepared from plant waste, light and air and is now used in human clinical trials to treat cancer and viral infections.

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