Safety as a Factor in Reaction Development: Considerations of Sensitization Potential with Amide Bond Forming Reagents

In response to an increased awareness of sensitization issues with amide bond forming agents, a detailed toxicological analysis of this broad family of reagents was undertaken which led to a quantitative ranking of the sensitization potential of these commonly used compounds. This data enables occupational toxicologists to guide the safer use of these reagents in the laboratory, but it also provides an opportunity for chemists working on reaction development, optimization and scale-up. To illustrate this, one of the strongest sensitizers, EDAC, is compared with the performance of one of the weakest, TCFH, showing the potential of this data for minimizing risks for researchers when using this family of reagents.