I have an assignment to create pros and cons for these. I don't know where to start, nothing I search gives any results. Could you suggest some low- bias websites? Any tips are appreciated! Thanks!
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I can give you some basics, starting with natural:
Pros: Usually always the correct stereochemistry, the molecules are usually very complex and pure and can not be made in a lab, they generally do not have byproducts and are pure.
Cons: Sometimes very hard to find (for example, a foreign flow that is protected, or it is illegal to obtain in your area), they usually can not be made in mass amounts quickly, and they can be much more expensive methods if not easily obtainable.
For synthetic:
Pros: The drugs can be made from scratch by simply ordering, alterations can be made in the process to make it more potent or weaker, it is usually fast and efficient, and it is hard to say here but I would say mostly it is cheaper by means of efficiency. The overall cost may be greater, but you can make so much and so fast and sell quicker that the cost is obsolete and profit exceeds it. However, not always true.
Cons: It can go very very wrong stereochemistry wise unless racemic (our body only works with conversion of specific R/S structures to S or L). There can be byproducts that are deadly to humans if not filtered correctly (like solvents, acids, etc...), they are usually corrosive and have to be handled carefully, they usually do cost a lot of money to start, and the whole process can be messed up rather easily, some other products could be formed in the process that are harmful, and again, the yield would not compare to something like in nature, you could be lucky to get over 70% depending on the reaction and the yield will vary. You have to mimic conditions in nature sometimes, although nature has enzymes functions at pretty crazy pH and temperatures so this usually isn't difficult.
Over all, I can't say that one is better than the other. It really depends on what you are making. I hate to say it, you should focus on legal drugs of course, but cocaine exhibits many of the problems. It is too complex to replicate, if it is made synthetically, it is very expensive, the yield is low, and the ingredients are hard to obtain. It is not allowed in most countries, and of course, it is illegal. So really the synthetic route and natural route both are flawed. But, it gives great examples of both cons.
Pros: Usually always the correct stereochemistry, the molecules are usually very complex and pure and can not be made in a lab, they generally do not have byproducts and are pure.
Cons: Sometimes very hard to find (for example, a foreign flow that is protected, or it is illegal to obtain in your area), they usually can not be made in mass amounts quickly, and they can be much more expensive methods if not easily obtainable.
For synthetic:
Pros: The drugs can be made from scratch by simply ordering, alterations can be made in the process to make it more potent or weaker, it is usually fast and efficient, and it is hard to say here but I would say mostly it is cheaper by means of efficiency. The overall cost may be greater, but you can make so much and so fast and sell quicker that the cost is obsolete and profit exceeds it. However, not always true.
Cons: It can go very very wrong stereochemistry wise unless racemic (our body only works with conversion of specific R/S structures to S or L). There can be byproducts that are deadly to humans if not filtered correctly (like solvents, acids, etc...), they are usually corrosive and have to be handled carefully, they usually do cost a lot of money to start, and the whole process can be messed up rather easily, some other products could be formed in the process that are harmful, and again, the yield would not compare to something like in nature, you could be lucky to get over 70% depending on the reaction and the yield will vary. You have to mimic conditions in nature sometimes, although nature has enzymes functions at pretty crazy pH and temperatures so this usually isn't difficult.
Over all, I can't say that one is better than the other. It really depends on what you are making. I hate to say it, you should focus on legal drugs of course, but cocaine exhibits many of the problems. It is too complex to replicate, if it is made synthetically, it is very expensive, the yield is low, and the ingredients are hard to obtain. It is not allowed in most countries, and of course, it is illegal. So really the synthetic route and natural route both are flawed. But, it gives great examples of both cons.