Abstract

Continuous Flow Synthesis of Coumarins and Flavones

Sandiso Ngwenya, PhD Student, Nelson Mandela University

Coumarins and flavones are antioxidants from natural sources that provide new possibilities for treating and preventing UV-mediated diseases as they are anti-mutagenic. These benzopyrones have attracted much research attention because of their high capacities and low toxicities. The synthesis of these compounds will be investigated to find a cost-effective, one-step protocol that can be utilized for these benzopyrones using micro-reactor technology. We aim to optimize parameters such as catalyst equivalence and temperature to obtain conditions that give maximum yields. Currently reported methods in literature use traditional batch routes that often require harsh conditions yielding as low as trace amounts of the desired product. Integrating the synthetic protocol to a continuous flow production would be suitable for implementation in a South African market allowing local on-demand production of APIs reducing production costs and leading to less expenditure on medicines imported from 1st world countries. Zak et al reported a processes for the synthesis of coumarins, wherein trifluoroacetic acid is used as a catalyst. We explored this method in our study and we were able to obtain favorable yields with a method successfully integrated into a continuous flow process and the results will be presented.