Using Green Star Metrics To Optimize the Greenness of Literature Protocols for Syntheses

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Rita C. C. Duarte (Author) FCUP; Maria Gabriela Ribeiro (Author) FCUP; Adélio A. S. C. Machado (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Chemical Education

ISSN: 0021-9584

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

CORDIS: Physical sciences > Chemistry

Other information

DOI: 10.1021/ed5004096

Abstract (EN): A procedure to improve the greenness of a synthesis, without performing laboratory work, using alternative protocols available in the literature is presented. The greenness evaluation involves the separate assessment of the different steps described in the available protocols—reaction, isolation, and purification—as well as the global process, with the tool green star. This proved to be adequate to assess separately the microgreenness of the steps. Two case studies, the syntheses of ethyl acetate and manganese(III) acetylacetonate, are presented. The results show how the different steps limit the global greenness of the synthesis and suggest that the workup may be more problematic than the reaction itself. Moreover, the study showed that the green star can be used for comparing in detail the alternative protocols proposed for a synthesis, finding the best alternative for each step and allowing the design of a greener protocol by combining them.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific