Skip to main content

In-house Selection Guides


A large number of solvent selection guides are available in the literature and have been developed in-house by a number of pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Sanofi and Astra Zeneca. [1] [2] [3] [4]. The ACS GCI PR has also produced an industry-wide solvent selection guide, which is also available as a free application for mobile phones. The ACS GCI PR has also produced a Solvent Selection Tool which enables the selection of solvents based upon a variety of key properties.

Although there are a number of solvents where strong correlations in classification exist between the different guides, there are a number of discrepancies.   The varying needs and priorities of individual businesses will have direct influence over the exact rankings of solvents.  The CHEM21 project has undertaken a survey of these guides to compile the data, analyse and understand the differences therein and have subsequently published a combined guide. [5] [6]

Example: GSK Solvent Selection Guide

In this video, Helen Sneddon talks us through the general GSK solvent selection guide.[1]

Example: Sanofi Solvent Selection Guide

In this video, Denis Prat talks us through the Sanofi solvent selection guide.[3]
  1. C. M. Alder, J. D. Hayler, R. K. Henderson, A. M. Redman, L. Shukla, L. E. Shuster and H. F. Sneddon,Updating and further expanding GSK’s solvent sustainability guide, Green Chem., 2016.
  2. K. Alfonsi, J. Colberg, P. J. Dunn, T. Fevig, S. Jennings, T. A. Johnson, P. H. Kleine, C. Knight, M. A. Nagy, D. A. Perry and M. Stefaniak, Green chemistry tools to influence a medicinal chemistry and research chemistry based organisation, Green Chem., 2008, 10, 31-36.
  3. D. Prat, O. Pardigon, H. – W. Flemming, S. Letestu, V. Ducandas, P. Isnard, E. Guntrum, T. Senac, S. Ruisseau, P. Cruciani and P. Hosek, Sanofi’s Solvent Selection Guide: A Step Toward More Sustainable Processes, Org. Process Res. Dev., 2013, 17, 1517-1525.
  4. L. J. Diorazio, D. R. J. Hose and N. K. Adlington, Toward a More Holistic Framework for Solvent Selection, Org. Process Res. Dev., 2016, 20, 760-773.
  5. D. Prat, J. Hayler and A. Wells, A survey of solvent selection guides, Green Chem., 2014, 16, 4546-4551.
  6. D. Prat, A. Wells, J. Hayler, H. Sneddon, C. R. McElroy, S. Abou-Shehada and P. J. Dunn, Chem21 Selection Guide of Classical- and Less Classical-Solvents, Green Chem., 2016, 18,  288-296. Note: correction to this paper: D. Prat, A. Wells, J. Hayler, H. Sneddon, C. R. McElroy, S. Abou-Shehada and P. J. Dunn, Correction: Chem21 Selection Guide of Classical- and Less Classical-Solvents, Green Chem., 2015, 17, 4848-4848