Fluorine Compounds in Pharmaceutical Industry
Have you ever noticed that some blockbuster drugs such as Lipitor and Prozac all contain fluorine? Actually this is nothing strange at all as fluorine compounds are exerting profound impacts on bioactive in the modern pharmaceuticals market. Statistics show that over 20 percent of pharmaceuticals prescribed or administered clinically contain a fluorine atom. And this figure could be even higher (30%) among all the 30 best-selling drugs that contain a fluorine, far beyond the two drugs previously mentioned.
The element fluorine (F2) itself does not exist alone. It often combines with other elements, that’s why hundreds of fluorine-containing compounds such as minerals, medicines, pesticides, and materials could be found. However, naturally occurring organofluorine compounds are extremely rare.
Before we talk more about the pharmaceutical activity of fluorine compounds, we’d better know some basic facts about fluorine simply as an element.
1. Fluorine is extremely difficult for scientists to isolate.
2. Fluorine is the most reactive among all elements, thus, it easily binds to other elements.
3. Fluorine does not exist uncombined in nature.
4. The importance of fluorine lies largely in its compounds.
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One of the fluorine compounds- fluoride is broadly perceived as effective in preventing tooth decay in early stages. For the purpose of dental care, fluorine is even added to city water supplies in the proportion of about 1/1000, 000. Some other fluorine compounds like Na2PO3F and NaF are alos added to toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay. There are many other applications of fluorine compounds. Of course one we couldn’t neglect is their pharmaceutical value.
Fluorine, even a single atom, can largely change the chemical properties of the molecule and thus create desirable features. This accounts for why many drug molecules are fluorinated. Another factor is that the stability of carbon-fluorine bond allows for longer time between dosing and activation. By adding fluorine, the chemical compounds’ ability to dissolve in fats is also increased. Research findings even prove fluorine aides in enhancing the medical power and anti-inflammatory effects of biologically active compounds.
Equipped with expertise in the field of fluorinated organic and inorganic chemicals, BOC Sciences is capable of conducting the following reactions regarding fluorine:
· fluorinated compound synthesis using fluorinating agents and fluorinated building block
· Teflon-coated 150-litter-vessel, with operating temperature from -100 to +70 Centigrade
· Special equipment to handle F2, SF4, and HF
· Design and Synthesis of F-templates/scaffolds and fluorinated reagents
· Halogenation (fluorination, chlorination, bromination, iodination)
· Reactions using anhydrous fluoride (HF), fluorine gas (F2), tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), chlorotrifluoroethylene, (CTFE) and iodine pentafluoride (IF5), etc., are also possible
BOC Sciences is also famed for its professionalism in custom synthesis such as chiral resolution, superparamagnetic iron oxide, etc.