Recent advances in the application of magnetic nanocatalysts in multicomponent reactions

Recently, the preparation and applications of magnetic nanostructures have attracted increasing attention in nanocatalysis studies, and magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) functionalized catalysts have been applied in important reactions such as Suzuki-Miyaura and Heck couplings. The modified nanocomposites demonstrate significant catalytic efficiency and excellent benefits in the context of catalyst recovery methods. This review discusses the recent modified magnetic nanocomposites in the field of catalytic applications along with the synthetic processes that are usually employed.

Recent Advances in Multicomponent Reactions Catalysed under Operationally Heterogeneous Conditions

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) have been gaining significance and attention over the past decade because of their ability to furnish complex products by using readily available and simple starting materials while simultaneously eliminating the need to separate and purify any intermediates. More so, most of these products have been found to exhibit diverse biological activities. Another paradigm shift which has occurred contemporarily is the switch to heterogeneous catalysis, which results in additional benefits such as the reduction of waste and an increase in the safety of the process. More importantly, it allows the user to recover and reuse the catalyst for multiple runs. In summary, both methodologies adhere to the principles of green chemistry, a philosophy which needs to become overarchingly enshrined. The plethora of reactions and catalysts which have been developed gives hope that chemists are slowly changing their ideology. As a result, this review attempts to discuss multicomponent reactions catalysed by operationally heterogeneous catalysts in the past 10 years. In this review, a further distinction is made between the MCRs which lead to the formation of heterocycles and those which do not.

Supported Metal Catalysts for the Synthesis of N-Heterocycles

Nitrogen-containing heterocycles are important scaffolds for a large number of compounds with biological, pharmaceutical, industrial and optoelectronic applications. A wide range of different methodologies for the preparation of N-heterocycles are based on metal-catalyzed cyclization of suitable substrates. Due to the growing interest in Green Chemistry criteria over the past two decades, the use of supported metal catalysts in the preparation of N-heterocycles has become a central topic in Organic Chemistry. Here we will give a critical overview of all the solid supported metal catalysts applied in the synthesis of N-heterocycles, following a systematic approach as a function of the type of support: (i) metal catalysts supported on inorganic matrices; (ii) metal catalysts supported on organic matrices; (iii) metal catalysts supported on hybrid inorganic-organic matrices. In particular, we will try to emphasize the effective heterogeneity and recyclability of the described metal catalysts, specifying which studies were carried out in order to evaluate these aspects.

Revisit to the synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted pyrrole derivatives in lactic acid media as a green solvent and catalyst

In this study, for the first time, lactic acid was used as a bio-based green catalyst and reaction medium for the synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted pyrrole derivatives from one-pot three-component reaction of commercially available primary amines, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, and trans-β-nitrostyrene at room temperature. Thirty-three corresponding pyrroles, of which eight are novel and have been reported for the first time, were synthesized in high to excellent yields in lactic acid media and characterized by spectroscopic analysis. In all examined cases, lactic acid represented many advantages, including shorter reaction time, ease of product isolation, higher yields, no by-products, no chromatographic process, and lower volatility in the reaction. This bio-based green solvent can also be recycled and reused three times without loss of its efficiency as a catalyst and solvent.

Green synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,4'-pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles] using Fe3O4@l-arginine as a robust and reusable catalyst

The synthesized Fe3O4@l-arginine showed strong catalytic performance in the one-pot synthesis of spiropyranopyrazoles via the reactions of hydrazines, β-keto esters, isatins, and malononitrile or ethyl cyanoacetate under solvent-free conditions. The biologically active heterocyclic compounds including spiropyranopyrazole derivatives were efficiently synthesized in short reaction times and excellent yields in the presence of Fe3O4/l-arginine at room temperature. The highlighted features of the Fe3O4@l-arginine nanocomposite are highly stable, easy to separate, low loading, cost-effective with easy preparation and reusability of the catalyst. The heterogeneous nanocomposite was fully characterized by SEM, EDX, FT-IR, XRD and TEM analysis.

A magnetic metal–organic framework as a highly active heterogeneous catalyst for one-pot synthesis of 2-substituted alkyl and aryl(indolyl)kojic acid derivatives

A novel magnetic metal–organic framework, NiFe₂O₄@MOF-5, was prepared and demonstrated to be a highly efficient catalyst for the one-pot three-component reaction of aldehyde, indole, and kojic acid.

Synthesis of fused cyanopyrroles and spirocyclopropanes via addition of N-ylides to chalconimines

DABCO-ylides react as a one-carbon source with chalconimines to afford fused cyanopyrrolesvia[4 + 1] annulation and spirocyclopropanesvia[2 + 1] annulation.

In(OTf)3 assisted synthesis of β-carboline C-3 tethered imidazo[1,2-a]azine derivatives

Synthesis of β-carboline based natural products and synthetic derivatives is one of the frontier areas of research owing to their medicinal properties.

Multicomponent synthesis of new curcumin-based pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives using a nano-magnetic solid acid catalyst

An novel nano-magnetic solid acid catalyst was used for the efficient synthesis of new curcumin-based pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives via a multicomponent reaction under mild conditions.