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Building blocks for sustainable small molecule crop protection solutions

 
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Building Blocks Molecules

INTEREST AREA: Crop Protection

The discovery of novel, small molecule crop protection solutions is essential and remains an ongoing challenge due to pressures of agricultural productivity. This demand stems from increased consumption of high protein diets, evolution of resistance to existing solutions, and continually improving the safety and toxicological profiles of crop protection products.

Corteva Agriscience has committed to providing environmentally friendly solutions for sustainable crop protection, including products that meet “green” principles endorsed by the American Chemical Society and sustainability goals set by the United Nations. Through these guidelines, Corteva Agriscience aims to reduce waste, increase atom efficiency, and incorporate renewable feedstocks whenever possible. We are intent on providing farmers with important control over damaging pests and disease through technologies that combine favorable human health and environmental profiles with lower use rates.

Corteva Agriscience has historically provided multiple crop protection solutions for farmers. However, the discovery and development of environmentally friendly crop protection solutions is a lengthy and continually improving process. As such, we are seeking input from the broader scientific community to gain access to diverse chemical space – unusual and underrepresented building blocks that can be incorporated into our molecules for the exploration of novel and more sustainable active ingredients.

We are seeking to acquire samples of novel, synthetic, small molecule building blocks in exchange for monetary compensation (see What to Expect for details). We intend to select multiple qualifying molecules from multiple submissions. To be selected, molecules must adhere to the desired Requirements described under What Are We Seeking?

 

Closed

Submission Deadline:
February 28, 2022 by 5pm PST 

Who Should Apply

Researchers at universities and non-profit research institutes 

Compensation

US$250 for each selected molecule transferred

What Are We Seeking?

Initially, we are seeking non-confidential submissions of chemical structures that meet the following Requirements:

  • must be a synthetic small molecule (Molecular Weight < 300)

  • must contain 1 or 2 functional handles (e.g., alcohols, amines, boronic acids, carboxylic acids)
  • must not be a readily available commercial product
  • if selected, the submitter must be able to provide 
    • a minimum amount of 0.25 mmol of each molecule
    • with a sample purity of ≥95% (HPLC or NMR)

  • submitter has the authority and ability to transfer the proposed molecules to Corteva Agriscience without restriction or limitations on research or commercial uses (please see the Terms and Conditions for additional warranties)

 

The submitted structures would preferably also satisfy these additional requirements (but not essential):

  • molecules synthesized from chiral pool

  • molecules able to be prepared in 5 chemical steps or fewer

  • easily scalable to multi-gram quantities

  • broad chemical diversity – ideally, the submitted structures are chemically diverse (e.g., sp3-rich and chiral) and can also include diverse substitution patterns 

     

Who Should Submit?

Researchers at universities and non-profit research institutes with the ability to transfer 0.25 mmol quantities of small molecule samples

 

What to Submit

By the deadline, submitters are asked to:

  • complete the submission form including a title, short summary of the submitted molecules to be added under "Proposal Abstract," and contact information
  • prepare a single .sdf file containing all chemical structures, with each molecule associated with unique identifier (e.g., notebook number)  Please note: .sdf files cannot be uploaded through the submission form on this website. An Open Innovation representative will follow up within two business days of receiving your submission with a link to upload your file to a secure location.

Submissions to this challenge must be received by 5:00 PM PST on February 28, 2022.

 

What to Expect

Submitters can expect the following steps to occur after the submission deadline for this challenge has passed:

  • Structures will be passed through Corteva in silico filters and selected at Corteva’s discretion.
  • We will evaluate your submission and notify you of its status by April 28, 2022.
  • Selected synthetic molecules will be communicated to submitters, and the following information will be requested:
    • the exact quantity for each to be transferred in milligrams
    • the purity (based on HPLC or NMR) of each sample
    • the appearance of each sample (e.g., colorless oil, white solid, etc.)
    • the execution of a signed agreement for Corteva’s purchase of the sample(s)
    • a document with contact information for shipping:
      • contact information for the person handling the shipping of materials, including phone number and email address
      • institution name, shipping address where empty vials can be received by submitter
  • Upon receipt and verification of the requested materials and a signed purchase agreement, Corteva will compensate the submitter in the amount of US$250 for 0.25 mmol of material.
  • All submitted structures (selected and unselected) will be retained by Corteva for possible future engagement with submitters