Reducing DCM Use

As the demand for greener, more sustainable drug discovery grows, minimising the use of environmentally harmful solvents such as dichloromethane (DCM) is a key focus for synthetic chemistry teams. In this poster, Sygnature Discovery shares its internal sustainability initiative to reduce DCM use during reaction work-up – without compromising scientific integrity or product quality.

Why Reduce DCM Use?

Dichloromethane (DCM) is a popular solvent choice in synthetic chemistry, particularly for chromatography. It has high eluting power for polar compounds, volatility and availability have made it a staple in many labs.

However, DCM poses significant health and environmental risks:

• It has acute and chronic toxicity in humans, including respiratory, cardiovascular and central nervous system effects
• DCM is a suspected carcinogen and genotoxin ¹
• Environmentally, DCM is persistent ((t_1/2 = 18 months in water) and contributes to ozone depletion and other ecological harm ¹

Sygnature’s Sustainable Chemistry Approach

In response, Sygnature Discovery has taken pre-emptive action to reduce our reliance on DCM as part of our company-wide commitment to sustainability.

Over the last five years, we’ve reduced our DCM use by over 50% – amounting to 19 tonnes of solvent – while maintaining scientific productivity and delivering on-spec products for our clients.

[1] https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-05-08/pdf/2024-09606.pdf

Join Us in Sustainable Drug Discovery

We believe that greater science and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. If you’re looking for a partner who can deliver innovative synthetic chemistry while supporting your sustainability goals contact us today.