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Bayer to develop immobilised toxic catalysts
F O C U S also expects to benefit from technological opportunities available through Optiva, a nanotechnology startup company in San Francisco which is connected to NextGen. Hydrogen storage units for batteries for laptop computers or mobile phones could be produced from nanocubes. European Chemical News, 9 Dec 2002, 77 (2033), 34 & Chemical Week, 4 Dec 2002, 164 (47), 45
Bayer to develop immobilised toxic catalysts According to ADIT, Bayer and the German government are financing the development of very toxic complex catalysts securely fixed onto solid matrices. This prevents any particles of catalyst from escaping and causing pollution. The work is being carried out in a Berlin institute of applied chemistry, and has succeeded in making osmium oxide complexes, useful as catalysts in making polyols from olefins. Chimie Hebdo, 9 Dec 2002, (195), 15 (in French)
Dow acquires exclusive rights to DuPont’s DuPHOS catalyst Dow Pharmaceutical Services has confirmed its exclusive rights to DuPont’s asymmetric hydrogenation catalyst DuPHOS. Initially these rights were sold to Chirotec, a company acquired by Dow in 2001. The licence is restricted to pharmaceutical applications. The advantage of DuPHOS is that metallic compounds derived from the catalyst’s family of ligands are amongst the most widely known and are applicable to almost all catalysts used in asymmetric hydrogenation. Chimie Hebdo, 16 Dec 2002, (196), 12 (in French)
Genencor buys enzymes business Genencor, US, in which Danisco, Denmark, has a 42.5% share, has acquired Rhodia’s enzyme and brewing operations for DKR 67 M in cash. In 2001 these activities generated a turnover of DKR 126.1 M. The takeover will strengthen Genencor in the area of enzymes for foodstuffs, animal feeds, and speciality applications. The aim was also to increase Genencor’s share of
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the market for enzymes, which the company estimates at DKR 4.3-5.0 bn. Dagbladet Borsen, 7 Jan 2003, 108 (4), 6 (in Danish) & Press release from: Genencor International Inc, 200, Meridian Centre Boulevard, Rochester, NY 146183916, USA. Tel: +1 585 256 5200. Fax: +1 585 256 6952. Website: http://www.genencor.com (6 Jan 2003)
NOVA develops gas-phase catalyst technology with BP NOVA Chemicals of the USA is set to receive a licence to use UK-based BP’s Innovene metallocene technology in linear LDPE production. In exchange, NOVA Chemicals has licensed its proprietary single-site catalysts to BP. Chemical Engineering Progress, Nov 2002, 98 (11), 21 & Chemische Rundschau, 20 Sep 2002, 55 (18), 3 (in German)
announced the availability of testing protocols for the use of its patented technology, Techrobond, in speciality grease formulations. One manufacturer has already been licensed to use the technology. Techrobond is a combination of a catalyst and modified PTFE that has been proven to provide low and high temperature wear protection by altering metal surfaces and binding the low-friction PTFE compounds to them at room temperature. The Platinum Research Organization was formed to design and commercialize patented, high performance lubricants and coatings. Press release from: Platinum Research Organization LLC, 2828 Routh Street, Suite 500, Dallas, TX 75201, USA. Tel: +1 214 849 9880. Fax: +1 214 849 9807. Website: http://www.platinumresearch.com. (18 Dec 2002)
Novozymes alliance with brewer Novozymes is negotiating a partnership with a major player in the global brewing market. The Danish company has developed new enzymes for use at a number of different phases of beer production. Their functions include a substantial lowering of temperature requirements, giving consistency of quality to hops, a significant improvement in the filtration process, and a shortening of production time. Novozymes believes the agreement will open up the global brewing industry to it. Dagbladet Borsen, 29 Nov 2002, 107 (232), 6 (in Danish)
Novozymes to shift focus towards food industry Novozymes will henceforward concentrate more on the production of enzymes for the global food industry, which is substantially more lucrative than was at first thought. It will use many of its resources to develop enzymes for the food industry and expects that by 2005 this business area will generate 26-30% of its total turnover, which will mean an increase of more than DKR 0.5 bn to just over DKR 2 bn. Net Posten, 2 Dec 2002 (Website: http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)
Platinum Research Organization develops testing protocols and begins licensing new speciality grease additive Platinum Research Organization has
PTC Organics promotes phase-transfer PTC Organics specializes in the screening, developing, and licensing of phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) processes used in making organic chemicals. The company has enough contracts in place for the next year to lift its sales by 50-100%. The largest business is retrofitting non-PTC processes with PTC technology to help organic chemicals producers increase their productivity, quality, and environmental performance. Twothirds of the company’s customers are in the US, the rest are in Europe. The company also wants to expand into Japan. Chemical Week, 18-25 Dec 2002, 164 (49), 39
Solvias and OMG to cooperate on chirals and organometallics Solvias AG and the precious metals division of OMG are combining their know-how in the fields of enantioselective catalysis and organometallic chemistry. The aim is to give the drug and biotechnology industries easier access to the synthesis of complex chiral active ingredients. Customers will receive comprehensive support. Solvias will supply tailor-made ligands, OMG either catalyst precursors or finished ligand catalysts. Chemische Rundschau, 8 Oct 2002, 55 (19), 71 (in German) & Chemical Week, 18-25 Dec 2002, 164 (49), 39-40
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Bayer to develop immobilised toxic catalysts According to ADIT, Bayer and the German government are financing the development of very toxic complex catalysts securely fixed onto solid matrices. This prevents any particles of catalyst from escaping and causing pollution. The work is being carried out in a Berlin institute of applied chemistry, and has succeeded in making osmium oxide complexes, useful as catalysts in making polyols from olefins. Chimie Hebdo, 9 Dec 2002, (195), 15 (in French)
Dow acquires exclusive rights to DuPont’s DuPHOS catalyst Dow Pharmaceutical Services has confirmed its exclusive rights to DuPont’s asymmetric hydrogenation catalyst DuPHOS. Initially these rights were sold to Chirotec, a company acquired by Dow in 2001. The licence is restricted to pharmaceutical applications. The advantage of DuPHOS is that metallic compounds derived from the catalyst’s family of ligands are amongst the most widely known and are applicable to almost all catalysts used in asymmetric hydrogenation. Chimie Hebdo, 16 Dec 2002, (196), 12 (in French)
Genencor buys enzymes business Genencor, US, in which Danisco, Denmark, has a 42.5% share, has acquired Rhodia’s enzyme and brewing operations for DKR 67 M in cash. In 2001 these activities generated a turnover of DKR 126.1 M. The takeover will strengthen Genencor in the area of enzymes for foodstuffs, animal feeds, and speciality applications. The aim was also to increase Genencor’s share of
FEBRUARY 2003
O N
C ATA LY S T S
the market for enzymes, which the company estimates at DKR 4.3-5.0 bn. Dagbladet Borsen, 7 Jan 2003, 108 (4), 6 (in Danish) & Press release from: Genencor International Inc, 200, Meridian Centre Boulevard, Rochester, NY 146183916, USA. Tel: +1 585 256 5200. Fax: +1 585 256 6952. Website: http://www.genencor.com (6 Jan 2003)
NOVA develops gas-phase catalyst technology with BP NOVA Chemicals of the USA is set to receive a licence to use UK-based BP’s Innovene metallocene technology in linear LDPE production. In exchange, NOVA Chemicals has licensed its proprietary single-site catalysts to BP. Chemical Engineering Progress, Nov 2002, 98 (11), 21 & Chemische Rundschau, 20 Sep 2002, 55 (18), 3 (in German)
announced the availability of testing protocols for the use of its patented technology, Techrobond, in speciality grease formulations. One manufacturer has already been licensed to use the technology. Techrobond is a combination of a catalyst and modified PTFE that has been proven to provide low and high temperature wear protection by altering metal surfaces and binding the low-friction PTFE compounds to them at room temperature. The Platinum Research Organization was formed to design and commercialize patented, high performance lubricants and coatings. Press release from: Platinum Research Organization LLC, 2828 Routh Street, Suite 500, Dallas, TX 75201, USA. Tel: +1 214 849 9880. Fax: +1 214 849 9807. Website: http://www.platinumresearch.com. (18 Dec 2002)
Novozymes alliance with brewer Novozymes is negotiating a partnership with a major player in the global brewing market. The Danish company has developed new enzymes for use at a number of different phases of beer production. Their functions include a substantial lowering of temperature requirements, giving consistency of quality to hops, a significant improvement in the filtration process, and a shortening of production time. Novozymes believes the agreement will open up the global brewing industry to it. Dagbladet Borsen, 29 Nov 2002, 107 (232), 6 (in Danish)
Novozymes to shift focus towards food industry Novozymes will henceforward concentrate more on the production of enzymes for the global food industry, which is substantially more lucrative than was at first thought. It will use many of its resources to develop enzymes for the food industry and expects that by 2005 this business area will generate 26-30% of its total turnover, which will mean an increase of more than DKR 0.5 bn to just over DKR 2 bn. Net Posten, 2 Dec 2002 (Website: http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)
Platinum Research Organization develops testing protocols and begins licensing new speciality grease additive Platinum Research Organization has
PTC Organics promotes phase-transfer PTC Organics specializes in the screening, developing, and licensing of phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) processes used in making organic chemicals. The company has enough contracts in place for the next year to lift its sales by 50-100%. The largest business is retrofitting non-PTC processes with PTC technology to help organic chemicals producers increase their productivity, quality, and environmental performance. Twothirds of the company’s customers are in the US, the rest are in Europe. The company also wants to expand into Japan. Chemical Week, 18-25 Dec 2002, 164 (49), 39
Solvias and OMG to cooperate on chirals and organometallics Solvias AG and the precious metals division of OMG are combining their know-how in the fields of enantioselective catalysis and organometallic chemistry. The aim is to give the drug and biotechnology industries easier access to the synthesis of complex chiral active ingredients. Customers will receive comprehensive support. Solvias will supply tailor-made ligands, OMG either catalyst precursors or finished ligand catalysts. Chemische Rundschau, 8 Oct 2002, 55 (19), 71 (in German) & Chemical Week, 18-25 Dec 2002, 164 (49), 39-40
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