Cyrene as a green solvent in the pharmaceutical industry

Abstract Cyrene (dihydrolevoglucosenone) is a bicyclic, chiral, seven-membered heterocyclic cycloalkanone which is a bio-based and fully biodegradable dipolar aprotic solvent. Cyrene is made from plantation radiata pine. It is used as a green solvent in pharmaceutical industries for the production of drugs and other pharmaceuticals. The advantages of green solvents are that they are less toxic, renewable, and cost-effective. Cyrene is nontoxic, harmless, and a greener alternative than a toxic organic solvent such as Dimethlyformamide (DMF) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). In this contribution, Cyrene is discussed as a green solvent in terms of its source, synthesis, pharmaceutical uses, and its merits.