Manufacturing eco-friendly molecules to support sustainable chemistry

Researchers from the University of Bern and the RIKEN research institute in Japan have made a significant advance in sustainable chemistry. They have succeeded in producing organic molecules through a chemical reaction based on the sustainable metals sodium and iron. This represents a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods and has the potential to fundamentally change the production of pharmaceuticals and other fine chemicals.

The synthesis of complex organic molecules – a chemical process in which larger and more structurally sophisticated molecules are created from simple organic building blocks – is a key element of the chemical industry and plays an important role in the production of pharmaceuticals, materials and agrochemicals.

Traditionally, expensive and rare metals such as palladium are used as catalysts in the synthesis of these molecules to accelerate and facilitate the chemical reactions. In order to make the production of organic molecules more sustainable, it is crucial to develop alternative methods using other metals which are abundant in the earth crust and have a low environmental footprint.

An international team of researchers from the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Bern and the RIKEN Institute in Japan have developed a method for producing organic molecules based on the sufficiently available and non-toxic metals sodium and iron.

Possible applications of highly reactive compounds with sodium

Organosodium reagents have been known for over a century and are highly reactive compounds in which sodium is combined with an organic fragment. Until recently, however, they were considered too reactive and difficult to control, so that they were rarely used in the synthesis of organic molecules.

However, independent research by the RIKEN Institute and the group of Prof. Dr. Eva Hevia from the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Bern and co-leader of the study, has shown that, contrary to popular belief, these organosodium reagents, which rely on the use of earth abundant sodium, could offer unique opportunities for the production of organic molecules.

"Our common interest in developing new and practical applications of organosodium reagents in the synthesis of molecules motivated us to combine the expertise of researchers from Japan in organic chemistry and catalysis with our knowledge in organometallic chemistry. Together we aimed to find a solution to the chemical challenge of using these reagents in combination with iron catalysis to prepare more complex organic molecules" explains Hevia.

Sodium and iron as a new approach for organic synthesis

In the study¹, the research team was able to develop a chemical reaction, a so-called cross-coupling reaction, which uses sodium as an organometallic reagent and iron as a catalyst. "Sodium as an organometallic reagent enables the chemical reaction, while iron as a catalyst accelerates the process and makes it more efficient," explains Hevia.

"Reactions catalyzed by metals are essential for the production of pharmaceuticals, materials, agrochemicals and other fine chemicals that are part of everyday life," says Dr. Andreu Tortajada, co-author of the study and former postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Bern.

Furthermore, the new research results confirm that not only organosodium reagents can be used for this fundamentally important type of chemical transformation, but that iron can replace precious palladium as a catalyst. Iron is the second most abundant metal in the earth's crust, and it is also nontoxic and cheap.

Further exploring the limits of organosodium reagents

"This research opens up new possibilities for the development of more sustainable organometallic chemistry. By using earth abundant and non-toxic metals such as sodium and iron, we can reduce dependence on precious metals such as palladium and reduce the environmental impact of producing fine chemicals," says Tortajada.

The findings could also be used in other areas of chemistry, such as in the development of new materials or in energy production. "Our findings are particularly relevant at a time when the demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies is increasing. The ability to draw on abundant and non-toxic metals could also improve security of supply and make the chemical industry more resilient to global supply chain disruptions," says Hevia.

References

Takahashi, I,. Tortajada, A., Anderson, D.E., Ilies, Hevia, L.E., Asako, A. (2025). Iron-catalyzed direct coupling of organosodium compounds. Nature Synthesis. DOI: 10.1038/s44160-025-00771-1

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