Scaling up synthesis of Colorado State University's fluoroalkylphosphines
Innovate UK
Cortex Organics Limited
This feasibility project represents an opportunity to seed a new partnership whereby Cortex Organics Ltd could become the commercial producer of new, patent-pending chemicals from Colorado State University. These chemicals have potential uses in drug discovery and agrochemical R&D, and researchers around the world are potentially interested in investigating their properties, if the chemicals can be supplied in useful quantities on a commercially viable basis.    If successful in this feasibility project and ultimately in discovering new ways to produce these chemicals on a commercially viable basis, then Cortex Organics could become a global supplier or the exclusive global supplier of these chemicals to R&D labs. If the chemicals are found to have applications in novel drugs or agrochemical, then Cortex Organics could find itself in possession of critical intellectual property used in large-scale production. This would open up new revenue opportunities such as licensing synthesis methodologies or subcontracting production.    Professor Andrew McNally and his team at Colorado State University recently developed a set of bench-stable fluoroalkylphosphines that directly convert C--H bonds (in drug-like molecules) into fluoroalkyl derivatives \[Zhang et al., Nature, April 2021\]. This is important in the context of an overall industry trend toward new drug candidates that contain trifluoromethyl (CF3) and difluoromethyl (CF2H) groups. Fluoroalkylphosphines are particularly useful in manufacturing these new drug candidates and offer the advantage that they can be applied late in the drug candidate synthesis process. Cortex reached out to Prof. McNally to put itself forward as a commercial partner for the first phase of commercial exploitation of Prof. McNally's work: the production of \>50g batch quantities for commercial sale to organic chemistry researchers.    Cortex Organics are experts in developing new synthesis methodologies for the production of chemicals, with over 100 innovative new synthesis methods discovered during the company's short history. Cortex already offers various chemicals for commercial sale through its website, and it has developed and sold synthesis processes to other manufacturers. The company is well-placed to help exploit these exciting new developments in fluoroalkylphosphine reagents. This feasibility study will provide essential breathing space allowing the Cortex team to investigate and assess the possibilities around entering this market and inject real value and momentum into the budding dialogue between Cortex and Colorado State University.
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