Decoding Reactions in Process Chemistry: A Quarter-Century Analysis of Trends and Transformations in OPR&D
This study provides the first comprehensive, data-driven analysis of process chemistry practices based on Organic Process Research & Development (OPR&D) publications from 2000–2025 indexed in the CAS Content Collection. More than 4,800 research articles encompassing over 34,000 reactions were analyzed to characterize commonly used synthetic methods, reagents, solvents, and reaction conditions in scalable processes. Industrial organizations contribute 65% of publications, underscoring the applied nature of the field. While cross-coupling—especially Suzuki coupling—dominates the literature, acylation and alkylation reactions are most frequently conducted in practice. Typical processes favor rapid, high-yield transformations (>90%) under ambient pressure with moderate heating (50–100 °C). Despite increasing regulatory scrutiny, THF and DCM remain the most prevalent solvents. Palladium-based catalysts and EDC for amide coupling continue to dominate, while flow chemistry has emerged as a key enabling technology. Overall, this analysis documents the evolution of process chemistry and provides evidence-based guidance for synthetic decision-making.
Org. Process Res. Dev. 2026, doi: 10.1021/acs.oprd.6c00001