Abstract

Background: Pharmaceutical companies produce synthetic drugs in complex multiple-step processes, but due to this high complexity, they generate a large amount of waste and consume high amounts of water and energy. The criticism of environmental agencies around the world has led to demands for changes in these processes.

Methods: With advances in new green reaction conditions and new manufacturing processes, these industries have lowered their impact on the environment. This paper addresses how pharmaceutical companies have developed alternative routes for some drugs within the precepts of green chemistry.

Keywords: Green drug design, sustainable synthesis, atom economy, biomass conversion, biomass-to-chemicals, pharmaceutical drugs.