Catylix and Aspira Scientific Launch the First Reagent for Pentafluoroethylation

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Catylix, Inc. (Burbank, California) and Aspira Scientific, Inc. (Milpitas, California) announced the launch of Pentafluoroethylator®, the first reagent for broad introduction of the pentafluoroethyl group. The reagent will be produced and distributed through a cooperation between Catylix and Aspira under sublicense from Catylix. The Pentafluoroethyl group has been advanced as the "New Substituent of the Future" for bioactive compound development by Catylix.

Pentafluoroethylator® reagent is available now in various gram quantities. Scaling to multi-kilograms and beyond is underway and expected to be commercial by the first quarter of 2015.

Based on the discoveries of Professor John Hartwig, now at the University of California Berkeley, Pentafluoroethylator® is a higher order analog of the previously launched Trifluoromethylator® and makes possible the rapid, one-step pentafluorethylation of aryl, heteroaryl, and vinyl iodides and bromides. The reagent is shelf stable, functions at or near ambient temperature, and has unprecedented functional group compatibility. Dr. David Rozzell, CEO of Catylix commented, "Pentafluoroethylator® is the fastest, easiest way to add a pentafluoroethyl group and evaluate the benefits of the New Substituent of the Future. Through our cooperation with Aspira, Pentafluoroethylator® will be available to chemists for the first time, enabling the one-step, facile introduction of the pentafluoroethyl group for evaluation in prospective drugs and crop protection agents."

Pentafluoroethylation is a new chemical reaction for improving the effectiveness of bioactive compounds, particularly in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Dr. John Chan, CEO of Aspira said, "We are excited to bring Aspira's expertise in distribution and production to make this breakthrough pentafluoroethylation reagent available to both researchers and process chemists for the first time. As we bring down the cost, we anticipate wider application and increased demand." More product information is available at: www.aspirasci.com/pentafluoroethylator.

About Aspira Scientific, Inc.

Aspira Scientific is a science-centric enterprise dedicated to empowering scientists reach their aspirations in chemical R&D. We achieve this goal through reducing the cost of basic and applied research by offering research products with superior value in terms of price and quality. By leveraging a truly global innovation ecosystem, we also make available a broader set of next-generation enabling tools for chemical synthesis. For organizations with developmental programs, we provide custom production services via "Collaborate Locally. Commercialize Globally.™" model to afford exceptional value in terms of innovation, quality and IP assurance, and cost-efficiency. For more information on realizing your scientific aspirations now and tomorrow, please visit www.aspirasci.com.

About Catylix, Inc.

Catylix, Inc. is an early-stage company specializing in the development and commercialization of new fluorination chemistry and novel products for the incorporation of fluorine-containing functionality. For more information about Catylix, please visit http://www.catylix.com.

MEDIA CONTACT
John Chan, Ph.D.
CEO, Aspira Scientific
[email protected]
Tel: 650-224-4037

David Rozzell, Ph.D.
CEO, Catylix, Inc.
[email protected]
Tel: 818-388-6576

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SOURCE Aspira Scientific

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