The route supplied by the client involved the use of phenyl cyanate for functionalising a heterocyclic intermediate with a nitrile group. Its ongoing use would require cyanide monitoring, a dedicated waste stream treatment step, and there were concerns over the sourcing of material of appropriate quality over the long term.

CatSci was tasked with performing route-scouting, route selection and early-phase process development over a 6-month period to meet a pilot plant manufacturing slot.