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Updated: Jan 15, 2026
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Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor
Published on: March 10, 2023
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Pharmaceuticals Made with Hydrogen: A Sustainable and Efficient Approach Using Flow Synthesis
Shū Kobayashi1,2, Haruro Ishitani2
1Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|October 16, 2025
Summary
This review introduces a sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing strategy using hydrogen and continuous-flow synthesis. It details novel catalysts for efficient C-N bond formation and arene hydrogenation, enabling greener chemical production.
Area of Science:
- Green Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Catalysis
Background:
- Conventional pharmaceutical manufacturing is energy-intensive and generates substantial waste due to reliance on fossil fuels and batch processing.
- There is a critical need for sustainable and efficient methodologies in pharmaceutical synthesis to minimize environmental impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel strategy for sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing utilizing hydrogen and continuous-flow synthesis.
- To introduce innovative heterogeneous catalysts for key chemical transformations relevant to drug synthesis.
- To demonstrate the integration of these technologies into a multi-step continuous-flow process for a pharmaceutical product.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts, including platinum on carbon (Pt/C) and polysilane-modified palladium (Pd), for atom-economical C-N bond formation.
- Design and implementation of a robust polysilane-immobilized Rh-Pt bimetallic catalyst for selective arene hydrogenation under mild conditions.
- Integration of these catalytic systems into a seamless, multi-step continuous-flow synthesis platform.
Main Results:
- The developed flow systems demonstrated superior performance and broad functional group tolerance for C-N bond formation.
- Selective arene hydrogenation was achieved under mild conditions using the novel bimetallic catalyst.
- A seamless, multi-step continuous-flow synthesis of donepezil was successfully accomplished, showcasing process productivity and sustainability.
- Challenges such as catalyst inhibition were overcome, leading to a highly efficient process.
Conclusions:
- The integration of hydrogen, heterogeneous catalysis, and continuous-flow synthesis offers a highly productive and sustainable approach to pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- This work represents a significant advancement towards a greener, hydrogen-powered future for the chemical industry.
- The developed catalytic systems and integrated flow processes provide a viable alternative to conventional, less sustainable manufacturing methods.
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