The Electrochemistry process transforms carbon into useful molecules

Chemistry collaboration resulted in an inventive technique to employ carbon dioxide for beneficial and even healthy purposes: by electrosynthesising it into a number of organic compounds essential to pharmaceutical research. The research produced a ground-breaking result. They could make two entirely distinct compounds, both of which are helpful in medicinal chemistry, by altering the type of electrochemical reactor. They chose pyridine as their target for the new endeavour since it is the second-most common heterocycle in FDA-approved medications. Heterocyles are organic compounds in which at least one of the molecules' atoms is not carbon and the atoms are connected to form ring structures. A "pharmacophore" is a structural unit that is frequently seen in substances that have therapeutic activity. They are frequently present in agrochemicals as well. The objective of the study was to produce carboxylated pyridines or pyridines with carbon dioxide attached to them. The benefit of adding carbon dioxide to a pyridine ring is that it can alter a molecule's activity and possibly aid in its ability to connect to specific targets, such as proteins. The two molecules are not, however, a natural pair. In contrast to carbon dioxide, which is often inert, pyridine is a reactive chemical. They were successful in synthesising carboxylated pyridines by combining their skill in electrochemistry with their expertise in using carbon dioxide in organic synthesis. Through electrochemistry, it can adjust the potential necessary to activate even some of the most inert compounds. The crew made a fortunate discovery while performing electrosynthesis. In an undivided electrochemical cell (where the anode and cathode that supply the electric current are in the same solution) or a divided electrochemical cell (where the anode and cathode are separated by a porous divider that blocks large organic molecules but allows ions to pass through). Although one strategy may be more effective than the other, both result in the same end result.