Dextra is pleased to introduce Levoglucosenone into it’s diverse range of carbohydrates.  With the development of a new manufacturing technology we are able to supply bulk quantities at very competitive prices.

The α,β-unsaturated bicyclic ketone Levoglucosenone is a cellulose derived pyrolysis product. With respect to reactivity, the need for protecting groups is eliminated by the presence of the anhydro bridge at the anomeric carbon and the C-6 hydroxyl group which furthermore fixes the conformation of the system, sterically hindering the β-face of the molecule. Formation of the highly reactive enolate ion is possible due to the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system and this can undergo numerous nucleophilic addition reactions, which generally occur at the C-4 position. In such reactions the pyranose ring locks the reaction products in the 1C4 conformation and this results in the opposite stereocentres from those associated with the 4C1 conformation. It is these attributes that make Levoglucosenone a highly sought after ‘synthon’ for the production of a diverse range of biologically important products.

For bulk quantities please contact us for a quote.

Thursday, 18 March 2010

Graeme Milne; Chairman of New Zealand Pharmaceuticals Ltd (NZP) today confirmed the appointment of Andy Lewis to the role of Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Lewis will report to the Board of Directors and will be responsible for the companies three operating divisions; NZP Ltd, Just The Berries Ltd and Dextra Laboratories (UK) Ltd.  Mr Milne commented that the Board had accepted the recommendation of former Managing Director Dr. Richard Garland to appoint Mr. Lewis, who has been transitioning into the leadership role as part of the company's succession planning process.

Mr. Milne added that the board were very confident in Andy's ability to lead the company through its next stage of growth and development.

Mr. Lewis who has been General Manager of NZP since April 2005, also fulfils a Director's role for NZP's blackcurrant extracts business Just the Berries.  In addition, he led the acquisition in September 2009 of NZP's UK based carbohydrate chemistry company Dextra, and has since then held a role as Dextra's Executive Director.  Mr. Lewis has previously held general management positions with a number of manufacturing companies operating within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as leading business mergers & transitions. He holds an Engineering Degree, and an MBA from Massey University and is a Member of the NZ Institute of Directors.   

Mr. Lewis commented that "he felt both humbled and excited by the opportunity to lead such a unique group of New Zealand owned science companies on the global marketplace." He added that "the company's continued growth would be driven from a position as market leader in niche animal by-products such as bile acids & derivatives, together with a growing range of new frontier carbohydrate technologies which its staff and alliance partners continue to bring to the world stage."

Dr. Garland who plans to reduce his working hours over the coming period, will stay on with the company as Executive Director.  He commented that "the decision has been driven by my wish to take a further step towards my retirement and the confidence of myself and all of the Directors that after five years as General Manager, Andy is now well positioned to lead the company."

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Dextra will be exhibiting at the 25th International Carbohydrate Symposium at the Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex in Japan, 2nd to 6th August 2010.  Come and discuss your synthesis projects requirements!

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Until now the need for chemical modification of heparin, heparin sulfate and other glycosaminoglycans before the attachment to inert or derivatised surfaces has somewhat restricted investigations into their protein binding properties. Heparin/GAG binding plates provide a specially-prepared surface which allows the absorption of GAGs without the loss of the protein binding properties. The binding plates are highly versatile and can be used in numerous applications in both basic and applied studies of protein interactions with GAGs. Additionally they can be used to study receptor binding to growth factors to chemokines bound to surface-immobilised GAGs.

Click here to download a pdf information pamplet.

Heparin/GAGs Binding Plate

Dextra representatives will exhibit in Informex 2010 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, on February 16 -19. Companies or individuals attending Informex may visit the Dextra Booth (number 1141) or send an email to Dextra to schedule meetings.

Dextra's services include:

• Custom manufacturing of API starting materials and APIs (with DMFs) with specialisation in carbohydrate and bile acid derivatives;
• Pre-clinical and clinical materials, including process design and optimistation, with appropriate documentation;
• Analytical services.

Dextra also offers a wide range of carbohydrates and derivatives through its catalogue sales.  Dextra will release its updated and reformatted catalogue at Informex.

• Dextra offers a "one-stop" client service, since larger scale manufacturing of API starting materials and APIs can be undertaken at New Zealand Pharmaceuticals Ltd.