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Development of a sustainable continuous flow approach toward allantoin

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Abstract

Allantoin is a commodity molecule widely used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry for its moisturizing properties. Although allantoin is a naturally occurring compound, its extraction is not economically viable on the industrial scale. Its production relies on urea and glyoxylic acid as starting materials. Current methods need long reaction times and use additives that raise safety and environmental issues. This work presents a novel process toward allantoin that uses Design of Experiments (DoE) and flow chemistry techniques. Intensified continuous flow conditions enable the preparation of high purity allantoin with a productivity of isolated product of 4.65 g h−1. The research of alternative and more environmental friendly additives for the preparation of allantoin emphasizes that glyoxylic acid itself (in slight excess) is an effective catalyst for the reaction, paving the way to the development of more sustainable synthetic processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alysophil SAS, Bio Parc, 850 bd Sébastien Brant, 67405, Illkirch Cedex, France

    Elena Salvadeo

  2. Center for Integrated Technology and Organic Synthesis, Research Unit MolSys, University of Liège, (Sart Tilman), B-4000, Liège, Belgium

    Jean-Christophe M. Monbaliu

Authors
  1. Elena Salvadeo
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  2. Jean-Christophe M. Monbaliu
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Correspondence to Elena Salvadeo.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Highlights

• Identification of most influent experimental parameters by using flow-chemistry and Design of Experiments (DoE) techniques and development of an efficient continuous flow process for the production of allantoin.

• Continuous flow techniques enabled reducing safety concerns with high pressure and overheated reaction mixtures under intensified conditions.

• Glyoxylic acid can replace mineral acids currently used as additives in the synthesis of allantoin.

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Salvadeo, E., Monbaliu, JC.M. Development of a sustainable continuous flow approach toward allantoin. J Flow Chem 10, 251–257 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41981-019-00056-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41981-019-00056-7

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