Diels-Alder Cycloaddition Reactions in Sustainable Media

Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction is one of the most powerful strategies for the construction of six-membered carbocyclic and heterocyclic systems, in most cases with high regio- and stereoselectivity. In this review, an insight into the most relevant advances on sustainable Diels–Alder reactions since 2010 is provided. Various environmentally benign solvent systems are discussed, namely bio-based derived solvents (such as glycerol and gluconic acid), polyethylene glycol, deep eutectic solvents, supercritical carbon dioxide, water and water-based aqueous systems. Issues such as method’s scope, efficiency, selectivity and reaction mechanism, as well as sustainability, advantages and limitations of these reaction media, are addressed.

Eucalyptol, an All-Purpose Product

Eucalyptus plants have attracted the attention of researchers and environmentalists worldwide because they are a rapidly growing source of wood and a source of oil used for multiple purposes. The main and the most important oil component is 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol: 60–85%). This review summarizes the literature reported to date involving the use of 1,8-cineole for the treatment of disorders. Additionally, we describe our efforts in the use of eucalyptol as a solvent for the synthesis of O,S,N-heterocycles. Solvents used in chemistry are a fundamental element of the environmental performance of processes in corporate and academic laboratories. Their influence on costs, safety and health cannot be neglected. Green solvents such as bio-based systems hold considerable additional promise to reduce the environmental impact of organic chemistry. The first section outlines the process leading to our discovery of an unprecedented solvent and its validation in the first coupling reactions. This section continues with the description of its properties and characteristics and its reuse as reported in the various studies conducted. The second section highlights the use of eucalyptol in a series of coupling reactions (i.e., Suzuki–Miyaura, Sonogashira–Hagihara, Buchwald–Hartwig, Migita–Kosugi–Stille, Hiyama and cyanation) that form O,S,N-heterocycles. We describe the optimization process applied to reach the ideal conditions. We also show that eucalyptol can be a good alternative to build heterocycles that contain oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen. These studies allowed us to demonstrate the viability and potential that bio solvents can have in synthesis laboratories.

Sonochemistry – an innovative opportunity towards a one-pot three-component synthesis of novel pyridylpiperazine derivatives catalysed by meglumine in water

An unprecedented and expeditious synthetic strategy for rapid access to a diversity-oriented library of novel functionalized pyridyl piperazine derivatives is reported.

Meglumine catalyzed one-pot, three-component combinatorial synthesis of pyrazoles bearing a coumarin unit

Meglumine has been found to be an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of pyrazolylcoumarins by one-pot three-component reaction of salicylaldehyde, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one, and hydrazine.

A highly efficient and recyclable cobalt ferrite chitosan sulfonic acid magnetic nanoparticle for one-pot, four-component synthesis of 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones

A novel magnetical cobalt ferrite chitosan sulfonic acid (CoFe₂O₄-CS-SO₃H) was prepared and identified as an efficient catalyst for synthesis of 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones by one-pot, four-component reaction.

Meglumine catalyzed expeditious four-component domino protocol for synthesis of pyrazolopyranopyrimidines in aqueous medium

Meglumine has been found to be an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of structurally diverse tricyclic fused pyrazolopyranopyrimidines by one-pot, four-component reaction of ethyl acetoacetate, hydrazine hydrate, aromatic aldehydes and barbituric acid in water.

From waste biomass to solid support: lignosulfonate as a cost-effective and renewable supporting material for catalysis

Lignosulfonate (LS) is an organic waste generated as a byproduct of the cooking process in sulfite pulping in the manufacture of paper. In this paper, LS was used as an anionic supporting material for immobilizing cationic species, which can then be used as heterogeneous catalysts in some organic transformations. With this strategy, three lignin-supported catalysts were prepared including 1) lignin-SO3 Sc(OTf)2 , 2) lignin-SO3 Cu(OTf), and 3) lignin-IL@NH2 (IL=ionic liquid). These solid materials were then examined in many organic transformations. It was finally found that, compared with its homogeneous counterpart as well as some other solid catalysts that are prepared by using different supports with the same metal or catalytically active species, the lignin-supported catalysts showed better performance in these reactions not only in terms of activity but also with regard to recyclability.

Meglumine: A novel and efficient catalyst for one-pot, three-component combinatorial synthesis of functionalized 2-amino-4H-pyrans

An efficient one-pot synthesis of functionalized 2-amino-4H-pyrans by a meglumine-catalyzed three-component reaction has been developed. A broad range of substrates including aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes, isatin derivatives, and acenaphthenequinone are condensed with enolizable C-H activated compounds and alkylmalonates to give the desired products in high to excellent yields. This methodology provides an alternative approach for rapid access to construct a diversity-oriented library of 4H-pyrans.