3. Semi-synthetic Intermediates These intermediates are modified from natural sources to enhance their efficacy or reduce side effects. An example is the conversion of natural penicillin to semisynthetic penicillins, which have broader antibacterial activity.
Despite their importance, working with drug intermediates presents various challenges. One significant issue is the scalability of the synthesis process. While a laboratory may successfully produce a drug intermediate in small quantities, reproducing that process on a larger scale for commercial production can be complicated. Factors such as reaction conditions, temperature, humidity, and raw material availability can all affect the yield and quality of intermediates during scale-up.