A robust and quantitative gaseous hydrogen generation method has been developed in an effort to achieve efficient H 2 generation derived from H 2 O. The present reaction could be achieved by a simple ball friction (milling) reaction of H 2 O using a planetary ball mill machine with a stainless-steel vessel and balls. It was mediated by metals as an element of stainless steel of the ball mill and also promoted by mechanochemical processing.

A one-pot continuous-flow method for hydrogen (deuterium) generation and subsequent hydrogenation (deuterogenation) was developed using a stainless-steel (SUS304)-mediated ball-milling approach. SUS304, especially zero-valent Cr and Ni as constituents of the SUS304, and mechanochemical processing played crucial roles in the development of the reactions.

We describe the development of the practical manufacturing of Ensitrelvir, which was discovered as a SARS-CoV-2 antiviral candidate. Scalable synthetic methods of indazole, 1,2,4-triazole and 1,3,5-triazinone structures were established, and convergent couplings of these fragments enabled the development of a concise and efficient scale-up process to Ensitrelvir. In this process, introducing a meta -cresolyl moiety successfully enhanced the stability of intermediates. Compared to the initial route at the early research and development stage, the overall yield of the longest linear sequence (6 steps) was improved by approximately 7-fold. Furthermore, 9 out of the 12 isolated intermediates were crystallized directly from each reaction mixture without any extractive workup (direct isolation). This led to an efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing process that minimizes waste of organic solvents, reagents, and processing time. This practical process for manufacturing Ensitrelvir should contribute to protection against COVID-19.

Arene nuclei efficiently underwent the hydrogen (H)−deuterium (D) exchange reaction catalyzed by platinum group metals on carbon in a mixed solvent of 2-propanol and D 2 O at room temperature to produce deuterium-labeled arenes. Platinum on carbon (Pt/C) and iridium on carbon (Ir/C) were applicable catalysts, and the various arenes bearing a carbonyl group, fluorine, phenolic hydroxy group, amino group, or phosphonic acid on the aromatic nucleus were effectively deuterated. Nonheating conditions are valuable for the scalable industrial preparation.