Scientists at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have recently published a revised “solvent selection guide” which is designed to aid the decision-making process associated with choosing a solvent for a chemical transformation. The original solvent selection guide published in 1998 assessed the use of 47 solvents in organic chemistry reactions. The updated version of the solvent selection guide now includes 110 solvents (each with a life cycle score), thus providing a more comprehensive comparative and relative assessment of the solvents.
The guide also contains information on solvent recycling, environmental impact, health and flammability issues amongst others. The broad range of issues covered in the guide will enable scientists to make an objective decision on which solvents to use based on multiple paramenters – this will help truly assess which solvent is the most sustainable for a particular procedure.
Click the link below to read the article in full – free access until 21st April
Richard K. Henderson, Concepcion Jimenez-Gonzalez, David J. C. Constable, Sarah R. Alston, Graham G. A. Inglis, Gail Fisher, James Sherwood, Steve P. Binks and Alan D. Curzons, Green Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/c0gc00918k
