Rewards for researchers
15 Jan 2000
A family of fungicides, an enzyme-catalysed asymmetric synthesis and a powder moulding process with a chemical trick up its sleeve have won BASF's annual innovation awards. Each will receive DM50 000.
Hubert Saurer developed kresoxim-methyl, a new fungicide belonging to the same strobilurin class as Zeneca's newly-launched Amistar. Derived from a natural product made by the pine cone fungus, kresoxim-methyl emerged as the most effective compound among 10 000 strobilurin analogues synthesised and tested by BASF since 1986. It can protect cereals, fruit, vines and vegetables against a wide range of fungal diseases which are currently untreatable or have developed resistance against existing fungicides, says BASF. The first products containing the compound went on sale last year.
Another award went to Freidhelm Blekenhohl and colleagues, who have developed a process to make a chiral intermediate, R-hydroxyphenoxypropionic acid, and related amines. The process uses enzymes to make the compounds in an optically pure form, which was previously possible only by a lengthy and expensive process.
Further downstream, Hans-Josef Sterzel and co-workers received their award for a new powder injection moulding method. Used to manufacture complex metal or ceramic components, this process involves injecting a mixture of powdered metal or ceramic and a polymer binder into a mould at a high temperature, then removing the binder by applying even more heating. However, the temperature needed to remove the binder can warp the moulded component. Sterzel's team developed a polyacetal binder that can be decomposed by an acid catalyst at a much lower temperature, then removed from the component by a stream of nitrogen.
222 ON ENQUIRY CARD
