Review Swiss Industrial Chemistry Symposium 2018

DOI: 10.1002/chemv.201800100
Author: Vera Koester (photos ©SCS/David Spichiger)
Published Date: 24 Oktober 2018
Copyright: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

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The 2nd Swiss Industrial Chemistry Symposium (SICS’18) - organized by the Swiss Chemical Society (SCS) and held at the University of Basel, Switzerland, on October 19, 2018—brought together industrial chemists working in research and Ph.D. students and postdocs of Swiss universities. Over 260 delegates attended the symposium, about 70% of them came from industry. 

The meeting offered a unique platform for researchers from industry to present their work in 15 talks. 52 Ph.D. students and postdocs had the chance to present their work with a poster. In a relaxed and very positive atmosphere, the one-day event provided many opportunities for attendees to exchange with colleagues from diverse backgrounds or to look at the exhibition stands.

The full program and the speakers' abstracts are available on the symposium website.

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Poster Prizes & Farewell

Attending Ph.D. students and postdocs had to present a poster during the symposium. During the lunch break, a jury selected the three best posters [2]. The winners–Johannes Diesel, EPFL Lausanne
 (Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioselective Pyridone C–H Functionalizations Enabled by a Bulky N Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand), Alejandro Guarnieri Ibáñez, University of Geneva
 (Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Heterocycles and Macrocycles by Controlled Reactions of Oxetanes with α-Iminocarbenes), and Benson Jelier, ETH Zürich
 (Radical Trifluoromethoxylation of Arenes Triggered by a Visible-Light-Mediated N–O Bond Redox Fragmentation)—had the chance to present their research in the Afternoon Session in five-minute talks. The SICS Best Poster award is endowed with a certificate and a cash cheque of CHF 100.

The symposium ended with farewell words from Dr. Alain De Mesmaeker, President of the SCS from Syngenta, Basel, and David Spichiger, Executive Director of SCS. Afterwards, the participants met for an aperitif and networking. The participants of the symposium were very enthusiastic about the lectures and discussions. "It is a must-be event for the Swiss chemical industry, at least around Basel", one participant said. The SCS plans a 3rd Swiss Industrial Chemistry Symposium in Basel in 2020. 

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Selected Talks

New Class of Antibiotics in Phase III Trial

A big challenge for the pharmaceutical industry is the fight against the growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Since the 1960s, no antibiotics with new mechanisms have come to the market. Dr. Marc Thommen, Polyphor Ltd., Allschwil, and Dr. Stefan Eissler, Bachem AG, Bubendorf, reported in their tandem talk in the Morning Session on the new antibiotic murepavadin. Currently, it is in a phase III clinical trial.

Gram-negative bacteria account for approx. 50 % of the severe hospital-acquired infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for 10 % of all hospital-acquired infections and the second-leading cause of hospital-acquired pneumonia, with mortality rates of approximately 30–40 %. Its strain is resistant against the widely used antibiotic carbapenem. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it as one of the top three critical pathogens. Murepavadin is potentially the first new class of antibiotics to be introduced against gram-negative bacteria in about 50 years [1].

The 14-amino-acid cyclic peptide murepavadin is a member of the outer membrane protein targeting antibiotics (OMPTA) class. It inhibits the outer membrane transporter protein LptD of P. aeruginosa. Murepavadin is a pathogen-specific antibiotic with a new mechanism of action against which pathogens may only slowly build resistance.

Murepavadin was discovered by Polyphor using their Polyphor Protein Epitope Mimetics (PEM) platform. Macrocyclic PEMs are medium-sized (0.7–2 kDa), fully synthetic, cyclic peptide-like molecules that mimic the secondary structures of proteins. The company also optimized the medical chemistry of the murepavadin. Bachem AG looked at the scaling-up, process optimization, and GMP manufacturing.

Daylight Management in Buildings

In the past, light management was mainly used to improve safety. Today, it is known that daylight improves the performance of office workers, promotes their well-being, and boosts physical and mental health. In addition, light management can reduce the energy costs of electric lighting in office buildings. Dr. Andreas Hafner, BASF Schweiz AG, Basel, gave examples of how materials science helps to manage illumination in buildings.

Daylight Redirection Foil (DARE) Light Tube (LUX) is a technology that redirects light and transports it via refractive micro-optic foils to bring daylight into building interiors so even windowless rooms do not need artificial light during the day. Facade elements capture the sunlight with refractive foils. Reflection on the inner tube walls concentrates and transports the light up to 12 m deep into the interior of a building where light fixtures shine the daylight into the rooms. The technology is currently tested at a test house run by EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology), Dübendorf.

Another technology produces sun-like artificial light: A polymeric color conversion film converts blue LED wavelengths to white light which is very similar to natural light. This allows the use of the cheapest LEDS to provide perfect light with a Color Rendering Index (CRI) over 95. The higher the CRI (max. = 100), the better the color rendering ability of a light source. Cheap LEDs typically have a CRI of 51; standard LEDs one of 80.

Does Catalysis Need a Future? Does the Future Need Catalysts?

Dr. Werner Bonrath, DSM Nutritional Products, Kaiseraugst, talked in the Afternoon Session about the future of catalysis in the fine chemicals industry. To answer this question properly, Bonrath recommends to first define what "the future" means (five years, a decade, 30 years, etc.), which region of the world we refer to, if university or industry is considered, and which field (polymers, pharma, fine-chemicals, life-science, materials science, etc.) is of interest. In addition, the environmental (E) factor is of importance—it denotes the ratio of the mass of waste per mass of product. Overall, it is very clear that we need better reactions that produce less waste.

Trends for the next years include in Werner Bonraths eyes the need for new catalytic processes with higher selectivity (enantioselectivity, diastereoselectivity) and space-time-yield, economical processes, driven by base-metal catalysts. The importance of bio-transformations will increase further just as the application of existing and new environmental friendly solvents in all type of processes. Sustainable starting materials need to bypass oil- and coal-based feedstock materials. Catalytic reactions need to be combined with purification which also requires a change of the reactor design; especially for continuous processing. Handling of “big data” including computer-assisted design of catalysts will gain increasing importance. Redox, especially photo-redox catalysis, will increase. This is coupled with the use of sustainable electricity for chemical conversions and the use of new materials such as electrodes consisting of base-metal containing materials.

Bonrath ended his talk by summarizing that the future is continuously in processing—a trend is to go from batch processes towards continuous processing—and that the future starts now.

References
[1] Nityakalyani Srinivas, Peter Jetter, Bernhard J. Ueberbacher, Martina Werneburg, Katja Zerbe, Jessica Steinmann, Benjamin Van der Meijden, Francesca Bernardini, Alexander Lederer, Ricardo L. A. Dias, Pauline E. Misson, Heiko Henze, Jürg Zumbrunn, Frank O. Gombert, Daniel Obrecht, Peter Hunziker, Stefan Schauer, Urs Ziegler, Andres Käch, Leo Eberl, Kathrin Riedel, Steven J. DeMarco, John A. Robinson, Peptidomimetic Antibiotics Target Outer-Membrane Biogenesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Science 2010, 327(5968), 1010–1013. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1182749
[2]  SICS'18 Best Poster Award, SCS homepage (accessed October 2018)

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Picture Gallery

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David Spichiger, SCS
25.10.2018

 

 

Die DIAC besucht die Firma CILAG AG in Schaffhausen & Mitgliederversammlung DIAC am 22. März 2018

An die Mitglieder der DIAC der
Schweizerischen Chemischen Gesellschaft (SCG)

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren

Wir freuen uns, Sie zur diesjährigen Mitgliederversammlung bei der CILAG AG nach Schaffhausen einladen zu dürfen.

 

Donnerstag, 22. März 2018, ab 09.45 Uhr
CILAG AG, Hochstrasse 201, 8200 Schaffhausen
http://www.cilag.ch/de/ueber-uns.html

Wir werden unsere Versammlung wiederum zusammen mit einem Besuch bei einer chemischen Produktion durchführen, dieses Mal freuen wir uns auf die Firma CILAG AG in Schaffhausen. Die Cilag AG gehört zu Janssen, der pharmazeutischen Sparte von Johnson & Johnson, und stellt pharmazeutische sowie medizinische Produkte und Wirkstoffe her. Sie ist ein weltweit agierendes, strategisches Entwicklungs-, Markteinführungs- und Produktions-zentrum für Pharmazeutische Wirkstoffe und Medikamente.

Nach der Präsentation unserer Gastgeberfirma durch Herrn Wolfgang Epple, Operations Director BU Parenterals, freuen wir uns auch über ein Referat zum Thema: «Trading in Procurement - Gambling or Necessity?» gehalten von Herrn Bahceli, BASF Intertrade AG.

Nach dem Essen in der Kantine der CILAG AG freuen wir uns am frühen Nachmittag auf die Besichtigung des Entwicklungs- und Produktionszentrums der CILAG,

Der Vorstand der DIAC hofft, Sie zahlreich am 22. März 2018 begrüssen zu dürfen.

Freundliche Grüsse
Dr. Bernhard Urwyler, Präsident

Invitation en français 

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Programm

Ab 09.45	Besammlung und Begrüssungskaffee CILAG AG, Hochstrasse 201, 8200 Schaffhausen
10.00-10.45	Einführung und Vorstellung der Firma CILAG AG durch Herrn Wolfgang Epple, Operations Director BU Parenterals
10.45-11.30	Vortrag: «Trading in Procurement - Gambling or Necessity?», gehalten von Herrn Bahceli, BASF Intertrade AG
11.30-12.00	Mitgliederversammlung 2018 der DIAC
12.15	Mittagessen in der Kantine der CILAG AG
13.30-15.00	Besichtigung der Entwicklungs-, Produktionsanlagen CILAG AG
15.15	Schlussbesprechung & Verabschiedung

Anmeldungen bis zum 9. März  2018 via Onlineformualr oder per Mail mit dem Anmeldetalon im Einladungsbrief.

 

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David Spichiger, SCS
09.02.2018

 

Review and photos Freiburger Symposium 2017

On Mai 11-12, 2017 the DIAC organized the 13. Freiburger Symposium at the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg and close to 100 participants followed the invitation. The organizers under the lead of Kerstin Bodmann, Lonza, and Roger Marti, HEIA-FR had defined a fantastic program, combining theoretical aspects and practical implementation around the symposium topic «Green Chemistry – from Concept to Industrial Reality» and fully fulfilled the expectations of the participants. 

Beside the scientific lectures, participants also appreciated the networking opportunities during the coffee/lunch breaks and the symposium dinner. The dinner took place on Wed, Mai 11, 2017 in the Restaurant Aigle Noir in Fribourg and was also the platform to celebrate the 2017 winners of the Sandmeyer Award. Alain De Mesmaeker, President of the SCS, awarded the team from F. Hoffmann-La Roche for the development of an efficient industrial synthesis of Idasanutlin (a MDM2 antagonist for treatment of cancer) via a Cu(I)-catalyzed [3+2] Asymmetric Cycloaddition.

Program and Abstracts of the Symposium

Pictures from the 13. Freiburger Symposium 2017

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Call for the 14th Annual ICIS Innovation Awards

ICIS Launches This Year's Search for Best Chemical Industry Innovations

ICIS, the trusted information provider for the global chemical and energy industries, today calls for entries for its 14^th annual ICIS Innovation Awards, designed to recognise outstanding technological and business innovation in the chemical industry.

ICIS is pleased to confirm Elsevier's R&D Solutions, the information analytics company specialising in science and health, as the lead sponsor for the Awards for the second year running.

Distribution company U.S. Chemicals, a Maroon Group company, continues as a category sponsor, supporting the Innovation with Best Benefit for Environment and Sustainability category. ExxonMobil Chemical also stays on board, sponsoring the category for Best Innovation by a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise.

John Baker, ICIS Innovation Awards manager at ICIS, comments: "We are delighted to have the continued support of all three sponsors, a sign that the awards continue to be successful in their goal of highlighting the importance of innovation in the chemical industry.

"The awards continue to grow and gain industry support and last year attracted a record level of entries. We once again look forward to highlighting the very best of innovation in the chemical industry - by both companies and individuals."

Christina Valimaki, senior director, chemical segment marketing, at Elsevier's R&D Solutions, and also a member of the ICIS Innovation Awards judging panel, adds: "The demands on those working in chemical R&D and manufacturing to create and commercialise solutions that solve business challenges and support the industry's customers, society at large and the environment, are vast.

"Elsevier's R&D Solutions is excited to partner with the ICIS Innovation Awards again this year to honour the scientists and researchers who are at the heart of some of the industry's greatest advances. We look forward to putting a spotlight on the individual people behind these groundbreaking innovations via the Alpha Innovator of the Year Award, now in its second year."

Celebrating success 

The ICIS Innovation Awards enable companies and individuals to celebrate their success in the vital activity of innovation and the increasingly important areas of sustainability and environmental performance.

There are four categories for companies to enter:

• Best Product Innovation
• Best Process Innovation
• Best Innovation by a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) - sponsored by ExxonMobil Chemical
• Innovation with Best Benefit for Environment and Sustainability - sponsored by U.S. Chemicals

The two categories for individuals -- the Alpha Innovator of the Year Award - launched last year, will honour individual industrial researchers for their outstanding contributions in two areas:

• New Product Development/Process Optimisation
• Environment and Sustainability

The ICIS Innovation Awards and the Alpha Innovator of the Year Award are open to entry from today, with a deadline for entries of 30 June 2017. The winners will be announced in October 2017.

For more information or to enter the awards, visit http://www.icis.com/awards or call John Baker on +44-20-8652-3153.

 

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ISIS, London
21.04.2017