Next-Generation Strategies in Flow Synthesis of Antiviral Compounds: “From Bench to Industry”

The recent COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the ongoing prevalence of other viral infections such as those caused by H1N1, Ebola, Zika, Nipah, and Chikungunya, has heightened the need for the development of effective antiviral drugs. As an initial measure, more effort was put into repurposing drugs that were readily available. The drug molecules are generally synthesized in batch processes that are time- and labor-consuming. Continuous flow chemistry offers a promising solution by enabling the rapid and scalable synthesis of these drug molecules and addressing the need for swift pharmaceutical responses. This review explores the transformative impact of continuous flow technology on the synthesis of antiviral agents in the past decade. Traditional batch synthesis processes often face challenges associated with scalability, efficiency, and safety, which can be effectively mitigated by continuous flow technology. In this review article, we have comprehensively analyzed the advancements in synthesizing antiviral compounds, such as remdesivir, nirmatrelvir, efavirenz, darunavir, brivudine, oseltamivir, and daclatasvir, by using continuous flow technology. This comprehensive overview serves as a crucial resource for researchers, chemists, and pharmaceutical scientists aiming to advance antiviral therapeutics through innovative synthetic strategies and technological integration.