Page 62 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

2 (4 ISOBUTYLPHENYL)PROPIONIC ACID

Interesting Facts

Some evidence suggests that the risk of developing
taking ibuprofen for two Alzheimer’s disease.
years or more may reduce

sales, they were ready. Whitehall Laboratories introduced
Advil and Upjohn and Bristol-Meyers jointly released Nuprin.
After Boots’ patent ran out in 1985, several other drug manu-
facturers began producing their own versions of the popular
pain-killing and anti-inflammatory product.

HOW IT IS MADE
The original method for making ibuprofen developed by
Boots researchers begins with 2-methylpropylbenzene, a
compound with a four-carbon methylpropyl group attached
to a benzene ring. 2-methylpropybenzene is a readily avail-
able product with a molecular structure quite similar to that
of ibuprofen. Then, in a series of six steps, various groups
of atoms are added, removed, or transposed to produce the
2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid molecule.
Other methods for preparing ibuprofen have also been
developed. One of the most recent procedures has been
invented by green chemists. Green chemists are chemists
who look for methods of making chemical compounds that
are less wasteful of raw materials, more sensitive to environ-
mental concerns, and less hazardous to human health. The
green chemistry method of making ibuprofen also begins
with 2-methylpropylbenzene, but uses different catalysts
and fewer steps to produce ibuprofen. Overall, the green
method of making ibuprofen is twice as efficient (half as
much waste products) as the original Boots method.

COMMON USES AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug,
or NSAID. The term nonsteroidal indicates that ibuprofen
is not a steroid, a common class of drugs used to reduce

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS 11