A Scalable Lithium Recovery Process in Atorvastatin Drug Synthesis

Abstract Alkali metals, particularly lithium, are essential across various industrial sectors, including energy storage and pharmaceuticals. Organolithium reagents are widely employed in organic synthesis for key C–C, C–N, and C–O bond‐forming transformations. However, the limited natural availability of lithium makes its sustainable recovery increasingly important. In this study, we report a scalable and commercially viable process for recovering lithium salts from aqueous waste generated during atorvastatin synthesis. The method efficiently recovers lithium as lithium carbonate using lithium diisopropylamide as the organolithium reagent. The process has been successfully demonstrated at a multi‐kilogram pilot scale, providing a practical approach for resource recovery and promoting sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing.