A Greener Synthesis of Glycerol Phenylbutyrate (“Ravicti”)
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide A laboratory experiment was developed to enable students to synthesize Ravicti, a drug used to treat Urea Cycle Disorders (UCDs). In response to legislation restricting the use of dichloromethane (DCM), otherwise known as methylene chloride, this synthesis uses cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) as a less hazardous, hydrophobic ether solvent. When implemented with students, they synthesized Ravicti in good yield and purity while discussing the adaptations to the traditional process together with the underlying reaction mechanisms. Students also determine relevant green metrics such as process mass intensity, which they use to quantify and explain the greenness of the conventional and adapted procedures.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Various Chemistry Research Topics
Chemical Safety and Risk Management
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Chemical Education
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Volume
- 103
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 2696–2700
- Publication date
- 27 March 2026
- Language
- EN