Discovery Phase
Hemp, as a variety of Cannabis sativa, contains a plethora of bioactive compounds with >100 cannabinoids identified in the plant or its extracts. Only a few of thes e cannabinoids, however, are expressed in amounts allowing for commercial production.
For the many other so-called ‘minor cannabinoids’, production hinges upon the skillsets of chemistry and biochemistry. These skills in turn rely on a knowledge of the molecular structure of a given ‘target’ molecule, and the reactivity of precursors that might enable efficient production of such difficult to access, nature-identical compounds.
For the cannabinoids, envisioning structural conformations of precursors and products is crucial for designing feasible production methods. Gaining a picture of structural conformations often begins simply with pen & paper.
This is where we start when considering route development, which allows prediction of problems and solutions encountered along the way towards a viable process for valuable products with high market demand.
Small-Scale Optimization
Once a target is chosen and its 3-dimensional structure is understood, we then evaluate and learn from various small-scale production methods from scientific literature.
Numerous experiments (10-20, typically) are performed using different conditions, and many days are spent analyzing results.
Only the best 2-3 results are considered for further process optimization and eventual larger-scale evaluation.
Candidates for optimization must minimize the use of hazardous reagents and solvents, catering to the eventual IP documentation and process licensing to partner producers.
It’s always the case that process changes are made on the road from milligram to kilogram, largely in efforts to understand and minimize impurity profiles.
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