Alfa Chemistry – Empowering Drug Innovation Through Precision Chemistry.

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and final drug formulations depend on pharmaceutical intermediates to complete their synthesis. As building blocks in multistep chemical reactions these intermediates enable precise and efficient pharmaceutical production. Our team at Alfa Chemistry develops high-purity intermediates specifically tailored for drug development needs and manufacturing through design and synthesis and supply operations. Our products are integral to accelerating R&D timelines and ensuring compliance with global regulatory standards.

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What Are Intermediates?

Pharmaceutical intermediates serve as intermediate chemicals during drug synthesis and are categorized as fine chemical products. These intermediates serve as initial materials or essential intermediates and undergo multiple chemical transformations to become final drug products. Pharmaceutical intermediates help manage reaction processes and enhance drug synthesis by improving yields and reducing by-products.

Alfa Chemistry understands the significant impact that the quality and purity of pharmaceutical intermediates have on the final drug's quality and effectiveness. Our collaboration offers you the following advantages:

High Purity

≥99% purity (HPLC/GC), verified by NMR, LC-MS and elemental analysis.

Diverse Product Portfolio

We provide 1000+ professional intermediates in various categories and are continuously expanding our product line.

Regulatory Compliance

Meets USP, EP, ICH, and cGMP guidelines.

Scalability

From milligram-scale R&D batches to metric-ton commercial production.

Customized Technical Support

Custom synthesis for novel structures, as well as route scouting and process scale-up.

Classification of Intermediates

By Therapeutic Application

Pharmaceutical intermediates are categorized based on their roles in synthesizing drugs for specific medical fields:

Anti-Infective Drug Intermediates

Antibiotics

Key raw materials for synthesizing penicillin, cephalosporins, and other β-lactam antibiotics.

Antivirals:

Nucleotide-based intermediates (e.g., deoxynucleotides, nucleoside triphosphates) for antiviral therapies targeting HIV, hepatitis, and influenza.

Chronic Disease & Innovative Drug Intermediates

Anticancer Agents:

Targeted therapy intermediates: Pazopanib (angiogenesis inhibitor) intermediates, antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) fragments.
Chemotherapy building blocks: Platinum complexes, taxane derivatives.

Cardiovascular Agents:

Aromatic intermediates: Clopidogrel intermediates (antiplatelet drugs).
Heterocyclic compounds: Benzofuran derivatives for anticoagulants.

Metabolic Disorder Agents:

Vitamin intermediates: Sorbitol, isophytol (precursors for fat-soluble vitamins).
Diabetes management: Thiazolidinedione derivatives.

Featured Products

Catalog Number	Product Name	Therapeutic Application	Price
PR957686	7-Aminocephalosporanic Acid	Anti-Infective	Inquiry
PR1206102080	Dolutegravir Intermediate	Anti-infective	Inquiry
PR1335210235	Dolutegravir intermediate-1	Anti-infective	Inquiry
PR1374507251	CO-1686 intermediate 1	Oncology	Inquiry
PR1378388205	GS-5818 intermediate	Anti-Infective	Inquiry
PR1378390294	Velpatasvir Intermediate (1378390-29-4)	Anti-Infective	Inquiry
PR1378391424	Velpatasvir intermediate (1378391-42-4)	Anti-Infective	Inquiry
PR161500468	Capecitabine intermediate	Oncology	Inquiry
PR168960198	Abacavir Intermediate	Anti-Infective	Inquiry
PR289042122	Rosuvastatin calcium intermediate R-2	Cardiovascular	Inquiry
PR97804507	MK-7 intermediate	Metabolic Disorders	Inquiry

By Structural Characteristics

Intermediates are classified based on their chemical frameworks and functional groups:

Heterocyclic Compounds

Pyridine Derivatives:

2-Chloro-3-bromopyridine, 3-bromo-5-cyanopyridine (core structures for antibacterial and anticancer drugs).

Imidazole & Furan Derivatives:

Imidazole-based intermediates for antipyretics/analgesics (e.g., ibuprofen precursors).
Furan derivatives for antifungal and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Fluorinated & Sulfur-Containing Compounds

Fluorinated Intermediates:

Fluorobenzene boronic acids (critical for synthesizing fluoroquinolone antibiotics).
Trifluoromethyl-substituted aromatics (used in antipsychotic drugs).

Sulfur-Containing Intermediates:

Sulfonamide intermediates (backbone of sulfa drugs for bacterial infections).
Thiophene derivatives (precursors for anticonvulsants).

Functional Group-Based Compounds

Alkyl/Aryl Compounds:

Modified via acylation, amination, or halogenation to enhance drug bioavailability (e.g., alkylated amines for CNS drugs).

Steroid Intermediates:

Estradiol and testosterone derivatives (for hormone replacement therapies).
Corticosteroid precursors (anti-inflammatory agents).

Featured Products

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	Price
PR113665842	Clopidogrel Intermediate	Aromatic Compounds	Inquiry
PR161500468	2,3-Di-O-acetyl-5-deoxy-5-fuluro-D-cytidine	Esters	Inquiry
PR209995380	2,4,5-Trifluorophenylacetic Acid	Fluorinated Compounds	Inquiry
PR10212201	2'-Deoxy-2'-fluorocytidine	Fluorinated Compounds	Inquiry
PR1021298689	2-Fluoro-5-((4-oxo-3,4-dihydrophthalazin-1-yl)methyl)benzonitrile	Fluorinated Compounds	Inquiry
PR1156491109	(1R,2S)-2-(3,4-difluorophenyl)cyclopropanamine hydrochloride	Fluorinated Compounds	Inquiry
PR220352396	(1R,2S)-2-(3,4-Difluorophenyl)cyclopropanamine (2R,3R)-2,3-dihydroxybutanedioate	Fluorinated Compounds	Inquiry
PR376608718	(1R,2S)-2-(3,4-Difluorophenyl)cyclopropanaminium (2R)-hydroxy(phenyl)ethanoate	Fluorinated Compounds	Inquiry
PR220352385	(1R,2S)-2-(3,4-difluorophenyl)cyclopropan-1-amine	Fluorinated Compounds	Inquiry
PR1450904923	((1R,2S)-2-(3-fluorophenyl)-2-((p-tosyloxy)methyl)cyclopropyl)methyl acetate	Fluorinated Compounds	Inquiry
PR1283129189	(1S)-1,5-Anhydro-1-C-[3-[[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-thienyl]methyl]-4-methylphenyl]-D-glucitol 2,3,4,6-tetrakis(2,2-dimethylpropanoate)	Fluorinated Compounds	Inquiry
PR817204323	[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-5-(4-benzamido-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyrimidin-1-yl)-3-(benzoyloxy)-4-fluoro-4-methyloxolan-2-yl]methyl benzoate	Fluorinated Compounds	Inquiry
PR874638809	(2R,3R,4R)-2-[(benzoyloxy)methyl]-4-fluoro-4-methyl-5-oxooxolan-3-yl benzoate	Fluorinated Compounds	Inquiry
PR35303765	4-(2-aminoethyl)benzene sulfonamide	Sulfur-Containing Intermediates	Inquiry
PR121040004	Aminomalononitrile methanesulfonate	Sulfur-Containing Intermediates	Inquiry
PR5098146	Aminomalononitrile p-toluenesulfonate	Sulfur-Containing Intermediates	Inquiry
PR149934203	9-Amino minocycline Sulfate	Sulfur-Containing Intermediates	Inquiry
PR334981101	1-[[(4-Aminophenyl)methyl]sulfonyl]-pyrrolidine	Sulfur-Containing Intermediates	Inquiry
PR181124403	1,3-Benzothiazole-6-sulfonyl chloride	Sulfur-Containing Intermediates	Inquiry
PR1192651801	1-Butanaminium, N,N,N-tributyl-, (1R,2S,5R)-2-(aminocarbonyl)-7-oxo-1,6-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-yl sulfate	Sulfur-Containing Intermediates	Inquiry
PR175712024	4-Chloro-benzenesulfonic acid 5-(2,4-difluoro-phenyl)-5-[1,2,4]triazol-1-ylMethyl-tetrahydro-furan-3-ylMethyl ester	Sulfur-Containing Intermediates	Inquiry
PR477600707	(3R,4R)-1-Benzyl-N,4-dimethyl-3-piperidinamine	Amines	Inquiry
PR245765666	5-bromo-N,3-dimethylpyridin-2-amine	Amines	Inquiry
PR1893125364	6-chloro-2-methyl-indazol-5-amine	Amines	Inquiry
PR765300	Cyclopropylamine	Amines	Inquiry
PR312753530	5,6-Diethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-amine hydrochloride	Amines	Inquiry
PR72235520	2,4-Difluorobenzylamine	Amines	Inquiry
PR2950438	Hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid	Amines	Inquiry
PR477600741	N-Methyl-N-((3R,4R)-4-methylpiperidin-3-yl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-amine	Amines	Inquiry
PR1022150124	(R)-3-(4-Phenoxyphenyl)-1-(piperidin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-amine	Amines	Inquiry
PR3886699	(R)-(+)-1-Phenylethylamine	Amines	Inquiry
PR2627863	S-(-)-a-Methylbenyl amine	Amines	Inquiry
PR30433911	Thiophene-2-ethylamine	Amines	Inquiry

Overall Solutions of Intermediates

At Alfa Chemistry, we deliver end-to-end solutions to streamline the development and production of pharmaceutical intermediates, ensuring innovation, efficiency, and compliance at every stage. Our services span from early-stage R&D to commercial-scale manufacturing, tailored to meet the evolving demands of drug discovery and production.

Pharmaceutical Intermediate Development Service

Custom Synthesis Route Design
Process Development & Optimization
Analytical Method Development & Validation
Scale-Up & Commercial Manufacturing
Fine Chemical Synthesis Services

Industry Hot Spots: Top 10 "Blockbuster" Pharmaceutical Intermediates

Market Insights

The pharmaceutical intermediates market is driven by high-demand therapeutic areas such as oncology, infectious diseases and metabolic disorders. In addition, in the pharmaceutical intermediates market, Asia Pacific produces 70% of the world's intermediates, led by China and India. North America/Europe focuses on high-value intermediates (e.g. ADC, HPAPI) with premium pricing.

Alfa Chemistry selects the top ten popular intermediates for you based on market trends, therapeutic needs and technological innovations:

Intermediates	CAS No.	Applications
7-Aminocephalosporanic Acid (7-ACA)	957-68-6	Core intermediate for cephalosporin antibiotics (e.g., cefaclor, cephalexin). Critical in combating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
2,4,5-Trifluorophenylacetic Acid	209995-38-0	Critical intermediate for synthesizing sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor used to treat type 2 diabetes. Used in the preparation of EGFR/ErbB-2 kinase inhibitors and imidazopyrazinone derivatives for metabolic disorder therapies. Key building block for fluorinated pharmaceuticals due to its metabolic stability.
Boc-(R)-3-Amino-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoic acid	486460-00-8	Intermediate for sitagliptin and saxagliptin, both DPP-4 inhibitors targeting type 2 diabetes. Used in asymmetric synthesis to ensure enantiomeric purity in chiral drug candidates.
2,4-Difluorobenzonitrile	773095-84-6	Precursor for antifungal and anticancer agents. Used in synthesizing kinase inhibitors and protease inhibitors.
2-Chloro-5-Chloromethyl Pyridine	70258-18-3	Building block for neonicotinoid insecticides (e.g., imidacloprid) and antiviral drugs. Used in synthesizing intermediates for CNS and cardiovascular therapies.
3-(Trifluoromethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine Hydrochloride	762240-92-6	Intermediate for sitagliptin side chain, a DPP-IV inhibitor drug used to treat type 2 diabetes.
6,6-Dimethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane	943516-54-9	Intermediate of namatevir, an oral anti-coronary artery disease drug that works by interfering with cysteine protease (DPP-4) inhibitors.
(2R,4S)-5-([1,1'-Biphenyl]-4-yl)-4-((tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino)-2-methylpentanoic acid	1012341-50-2	Favipiravir intermediate, a chemical drug that plays an important role in antiviral effects.
Maleimide-PEG-based Linkers (e.g., Maleimide-PEG24-acid)	1347750-82-8	Essential for site-specific conjugation in ADC therapies. Enhances stability and efficacy of cancer-targeting drugs like trastuzumab emtansine.
Fluorobenzene Boronic Acid	4515-09-3	Intermediate for fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin). Enhances drug bioavailability and metabolic stability.

What Our Clients Say

Alfa Chemistry’s intermediates were pivotal in accelerating our ADC drug development. The antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) linker intermediates they supplied exceeded 99.8% purity (HPLC), and their team provided critical stability data that streamlined our IND submission. Their commitment to cGMP standards and on-time delivery is unmatched.

Dr. Eleanor Vance

– Senior Director, Global Pharmaceutical Company

For our generic antibiotic project, Alfa Chemistry’s cost-effective cephalosporin intermediates slashed our production costs while meeting USP/EP specs. Their dual sourcing strategy also minimized supply chain risks. A reliable partner for high-volume needs.

Mark Olsen

– Procurement Manager, Generic Pharma Leader

We required highly specialized chiral intermediates for a metabolic disorder study. Alfa Chemistry’s enantiomerically pure compounds (>99.5% ee) enabled precise in vivo testing, and their detailed COA/MSDS documentation simplified our grant reporting. A trusted partner for cutting-edge research.

Sarah Kim

– Research Scientist, Pharmacology Labs

FAQs About Intermediates

What is the Difference Between APIs and Intermediates?

In drug development, pharmaceutical intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) function as essential elements yet fulfill different purposes during drug synthesis and final product functionality. APIs represent the final compounds in pharmaceutical drugs that produce therapeutic effects through their biological activity such as ibuprofen in pain relievers. During API production intermediates act as transitional substances that function as building blocks in multi-stage reactions but do not possess therapeutic activity themselves (e.g., 2-chloropyridine in antibiotic production). APIs require compliance with strict regulatory standards like cGMP and comprehensive safety and efficacy testing which is more demanding than the high purity needed for intermediates to ensure API quality. API synthesis becomes cost-effective through intermediates while APIs function as the primary elements sold in pharmaceutical products.

Key Differences at A Glance: APIs vs. Intermediates

Aspect	Intermediates	API
Function	Transitional compounds in API synthesis	Final therapeutic agent
Therapeutic Activity	None	Direct pharmacological effect
Purity Requirements	High (≥95–99%), but depends on the stage	Extremely high (≥99.5%, HPLC/GC verified)
Regulatory Focus	Process control and safety	Safety, efficacy, and global compliance
Commercial Use	Not sold as standalone drugs	Marketed as part of finished dosage forms

What quality standards do your intermediates comply with?

Our products adhere to USP, EP, and cGMP standards depending on specific products. Full analytical documentation is provided according your requirement.

What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)?

In general, our MOQ starts at 100 mg for R&D. Bulk orders (kg-ton scale) include discounted pricing. Of course, please feel free to contact us for details.

Can you synthesize isotopically labeled intermediates for metabolic studies?

Absolutely. We specialize in stable isotope labeling (custom synthesis of 13C/15N-labeled heterocycles), deuterium exchange (for pharmacokinetic (PK) tracer developmen), as well as GMP-grade labeled intermediates.

What analytical techniques are used to characterize high-potency intermediates (e.g., ADC payloads)?

Our advanced methods include:

HRMS/Q-TOF: Confirm molecular structure and isotopic patterns.
XRD: Crystal structure determination for polymorph control.
ICP-MS: Trace metal analysis for catalyst residues.

View Our Analytical Testing Lab Facilities

Research Case: Chiral intermediates in drug synthesis-drug reuse/chiral conversion combination strategy

(Ilaria D'Acquarica, et al. 2023)

This study presents a strategy that combines drug repurposing with chiral switches, highlighting notable examples of chiral drugs that have been involved in this approach, including ketamine, flurbiprofen, fenfluramine, and milnacipran. Additionally, it examines deuterium-enabled chiral switches derived from racemic thalidomide analogs, representing a variation of this strategy. By merging these two concepts, the combination offers a synergy that addresses criticisms related to chiral switches while enhancing opportunities for patent validation and regulatory exclusivity. This strategy can also be extended to chiral switches involving paired enantiomers. [1]

Contact & Ordering

Ready to streamline your pharmaceutical synthesis? Alfa Chemistry is your reliable partner for precision drug solutions.

Reference

D'Acquarica, Ilaria, et al. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 2023, 6(2), 201-219.

Alfa Chemistry – Empowering Drug Innovation Through Precision Chemistry.

What Are Intermediates?

Classification of Intermediates

By Therapeutic Application

Anti-Infective Drug Intermediates

Chronic Disease & Innovative Drug Intermediates

Featured Products

By Structural Characteristics

Heterocyclic Compounds

Fluorinated & Sulfur-Containing Compounds

Functional Group-Based Compounds

Featured Products

Overall Solutions of Intermediates

Pharmaceutical Intermediate Development Service

Related Solutions & Capabilities

Industry Hot Spots: Top 10 "Blockbuster" Pharmaceutical Intermediates

Market Insights

What Our Clients Say

FAQs About Intermediates

Key Differences at A Glance: APIs vs. Intermediates

Research Case: Chiral intermediates in drug synthesis-drug reuse/chiral conversion combination strategy

Contact & Ordering