SIGMA-ALDRICH LAUNCHES PEPPSI−IPr: AN AIR- AND WATER-STABLE PALLADIUM CATALYST FOR INTERMOLECULAR CROSS-COUPLING REACTIONS, AMINATIONS AND INTRAMOLECULAR HECK TRANSFORMATIONS

Sigma-Aldrich (NASDAQ: SIAL), a leading $1.7 billion Life Science company, is fueling the growth of its innovative portfolio of catalysts and ligands for organic synthesis through an agreement with Professor Michael Organ at York University in Toronto, Canada.

PEPPSI−IPr is distinguished by higher efficiency and superior functional group tolerance, and meets or exceeds the performance of traditional phosphine systems in industrially useful Suzuki, Negishi and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions. Under this agreement, Aldrich Chemical will manufacture and market Organ’s PEPPSI−IPr catalyst.

“Sigma-Aldrich is proud to offer gram to bulk quantities of the PEPPSI−IPr catalyst, with the development work being jointly executed by Aldrich R&D and Organ team scientists,” said Aaron Maestri, Product Manager for Catalysis at Sigma-Aldrich. “The catalyst’s efficient mediation of C−C and C−N bond-forming processes, robust stability and competitive cost structure make it attractive for widespread application in the global research and fine chemical arena.”

The technology platform is based upon the development of an elegant Pd-NHC (N-heterocyclic carbene) system built upon a simple concept. The title complex, PEPPSI, stands for Pyridine-Enhanced Precatalyst Preparation Stabilization and Initiation. The 3-chloropyridyl ligand functions as a ‘throw-away’ ligand, while the bulky NHC ligand promotes reductive elimination of the product that in turn increases overall yields.

The PEPPSI−IPr catalyst highlights Sigma-Aldrich’s drive to advance science for our clients through expansion of our proprietary catalyst portfolio, including the Grubbs’ Nobel prize-winning metathesis technology. Information on this catalyst, as well as Sigma-Aldrich’s market-leading line of chemical synthesis products, can be found at sigma-aldrich.com/chemicalsynthesis.