Microwave-assisted organic synthesis and transformations using benign reaction media

Carbon nanotubes and microwaves: interactions, responses, and applications

The interaction of microwaves with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is an interesting topic for a variety of potential applications. Microwaves have been used for the purification of CNTs and for their chemical functionalization, providing a technique for simple, green, and large-scale protocols. In addition, the selective destruction of metallic CNTs under microwave irradiation could potentially result in a batch of semiconducting-only nanotubes. As an innovative application, the combination of microwaves with well-aligned CNTs could produce a new illumination technology. Moreover, the microwave absorbing properties of CNTs and their different behavior from typical organic compounds may open the door to the preparation of a wide range of new materials useful in many fields. A few examples of practical applications include electromagnetic interference for protecting the environment from radiation and microwave hyperthermia for cancer treatment as well as other medical therapies requiring precise heating of biological tissues.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of triple-helical, collagen-mimetic lipopeptides

Collagen-mimetic peptides and lipopeptides are widely used as substrates for matrix degrading enzymes, as new biomaterials for tissue engineering, as drug delivery systems and so on. However, the preparation and subsequent purification of these peptides and their fatty-acid conjugates are really challenging. Herein, we report a rapid microwave-assisted, solid-phase synthetic protocol to prepare the fatty-acid conjugated, triple-helical peptides containing the cleavage site for the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). We employed a PEG-based resin as the solid support and the amino acids were protected with Fmoc- and tert-butyl groups. The amino acids were coupled at 50 degrees C (25 W of microwave power) for 5 min. The deprotection reactions were carried out at 75 degrees C (35 W of microwave power) for 3 min. Using this protocol, a peptide containing 23 amino acids was synthesized and then conjugated to stearic acid in 14 h.

An Efficient, Microwave-Assisted, One-Pot Synthesis of Indoles Under Sonogashira Conditions

A microwave-assisted, one-pot, three-component coupling reaction for the synthesis of indoles has been developed. The reaction is carried out in two steps under standard Sonogashira coupling conditions from an N-substituted/N,N-disubstituted 2-iodoaniline and a terminal alkyne, followed by the addition of acetonitrile and an aryl iodide. A variety of polysubstituted indoles have been prepared in moderate to excellent yields using the present method.

Microwave-assisted synthesis using ionic liquids

The research and application of green chemistry principles have led to the development of cleaner processes. In this sense, during the present century an ever-growing number of studies have been published describing the use of ionic liquids (ILs) as solvents, catalysts, or templates to develop more environmentally friendly and efficient chemical transformations for their use in both academia and industry. The conjugation of ILs and microwave irradiation as a non-conventional heating source has shown evident advantages when compared to conventional synthetic procedures for the generation of fast, efficient, and environmental friendly synthetic methodologies. This review focuses on the advances in the use of ILs in organic, polymers and materials syntheses under MW irradiation conditions.

Self-assembly of metal oxides into three-dimensional nanostructures: synthesis and application in catalysis

Nanostructured metal (Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, Mo) oxides were fabricated under microwave irradiation conditions in pure water without using any reducing or capping reagent. The metal oxides self-assembled into octahedra, spheres, triangular rods, pine, and hexagonal snowflake-like three-dimensional morphologies. Pine-structured nano-iron oxides were studied as a novel support for various catalytic organic transformations.

Microwave-Assisted Chemistry: a Closer Look at Heating Efficiency

Nowadays, microwave heating has evolved into a common tool for chemists based on its numerous advantages over conventional conductive heating. Surprisingly, the efficiency of microwave-assisted heating is still rather unexplored. In this contribution, we report our investigations concerning the heating efficiency of a variety of solvents including polar and apolar substances. Moreover, the effects of adding salt or passive heating elements on the microwave heating efficiency will be addressed. Finally, the heating efficiency of demineralized water is discussed at different volumes and with different microwave power levels in both monomode and multimode microwave synthesizers, demonstrating maximum average heating efficiencies of 10% for small-scale vessels (5 mL), 20% for medium-scale (50 mL), and 30% for large-scale microwave heating (400 mL).

Microwave-Assisted Chemistry: a Rapid and Sustainable Route to Synthesis of Organics and Nanomaterials

The use of emerging microwave (MW)-assisted chemistry techniques in conjunction with benign reaction media is dramatically reducing chemical waste and reaction times in several organic syntheses and chemical transformations. The present review summarizes recent developments in MW-assisted synthesis, name reactions and organic transformations, and rapid generation of nanoparticles with uniform size distribution. Greener protocols have been developed for the synthesis of various bio-active heterocycles, namely 1,3,4-oxadiazoles, 1,3,4-thiadiazoles, 1,3-dioxanes, pyrazoles, hydrazones and 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones, which proceed under the influence of microwaves and using eco-friendly conditions. These high-yielding methods were catalyzed efficiently by solid-supported Nafion NR50 under solvent-free conditions and polystyrene sulfonic acid in aqueous media. The eco-friendly nucleophilic substitution chemistry in water to generate cyclic amines via double N-alkylation of primary amines or hydrazines by dihalides or tosylates enables the greener synthesis of a range of pharmaceutically active heterocycles. Similarly, efficient MW synthesis of various azides, thiocyanates, and sulfones in aqueous medium occurs wherein nucleophilic substitution reaction takes place in the absence of a phase-transfer catalyst. Bulk and shape-controlled synthesis of noble nanostructures via MW-assisted spontaneous reduction of noble metal salts using α-d-glucose, sucrose, and maltose is described. MW method also accomplishes the cross-linking reaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) with metallic systems such as Pt, Cu, and In; bimetallic systems, namely Pt–In, Ag–Pt, Pt–Fe, Cu–Pd, Pt–Pd, and Pd–Fe; and single-walled nanotubes, multi-walled nanotubes, and buckminsterfullerenes (C-60). The strategy is extended to the formation of biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) composite films with noble nanometals; such metal decoration and alignment of carbon nanotubes in CMC is possible using a MW approach that also enables the shape-controlled bulk synthesis of Ag and Fe nanorods in poly(ethylene glycol).

Fast, acid-free, and selective lactamization of lactones in ionic liquids

A fast and acid-free one-pot 0.2-30 mmol microwave methodology for direct ionic liquid-mediated preparation of lactams from lactones and primary amines has been developed. The protocol was investigated with a wide range of primary amines and a handful of lactones, including substrates with acid-sensitive substituents. Both gamma-lactams and delta-lactams were, despite the complete absence of a Brønsted acid, obtained in useful to excellent yields after only 35 min of microwave processing.