Method and device for the synthesis of artemisinin

摘要

The present invention is directed to a method for producing artemisinin having the formula;
from dihydroartemisinic acid in a continuous flow reactor using singlet oxygen as well as to the continuous flow reactor for producing artemisinin.

主权项

1. A method for producing artemisinin from dihydroartemisinic acid comprising the following steps:
A) providing dihydroartemisinic acid represented by the following formula B) performing in a continuous flow reactor the following reactions
i) photooxidation of dihydroartemisinic acid with singlet oxygen in a mixture of solvent, dihydroartemisinic acid, photosensitizer and oxygen,ii) followed by an acid mediated cleavage, andiii) subsequent oxidation with triplet oxygen in order to obtain artemisinin of the following formula: wherein the photooxidation of step i) and iii) are carried out under pressure generated by oxygen or an oxygen containing mixture.