Catalyst-free and additive-free reactions enabling C-C bond formation: a journey towards a sustainable future

This review focuses on the catalyst- and additive-free C-C bond forming reactions reported mostly from the year 2005 to date. C-C bond forming reactions are highly important as large and complex organic molecules can be derived from simpler ones via these reactions. On the other hand, catalyst- and additive-free reactions are economical, environmentally friendly and less sensitive to air/moisture, allow easy separation of products and are operationally simple. Hence, a large number of research articles have been published in this area. Though a few reviews are available on the catalyst-free organic reactions, most of them were published a few years ago. The current review excludes catalysts as well as additives and is specific to only C-C bond formation. Besides many organic name reactions, catalyst/additive-free C-H functionalizations, coupling reactions and UV-visible-light-promoted reactions are also discussed. Undoubtedly, the contents of this review will motivate readers to do more novel work in this area which will accelerate the journey towards a sustainable future.

Mekheimer R, M. Hayallah A, A. Abo Elsoud F, U. Sadek K. Recent Advances in the Utility of Glycerol as a Benign and Biodegradable Medium in Heterocyclic Synthesis

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Glycerol is a non-toxic, recyclable and biodegradable organic waste produced as a byproduct in the production of biodiesel fuel. Currently, glycerol is considered a green solvent and catalyst for a large variety of applications. This work discusses the significance of glycerol for heterocyclic synthesis. All the reported studies consider glycerol as an efficient and sustainable benign medium.

Microwave-accelerated diastereoselective catalyst-free one-pot four-component synthesis of 2-(N-carbamoylacetamide)-substituted 2,3-dihydrothiophenes in glycerol

In the current study, glycerol was successfully employed as a nonvolatile, non-toxic, non-flammable, biodegradable, very cheap, easily accessible, and efficient reaction medium for the microwave-enhanced diastereoselective synthesis of 2-(N-carbamoylacetamide)-substituted 2,3-dihydrothiophenes via a catalyst-free one-pot four-component reaction. A versatile range of starting materials were used, and diverse products were obtained in good to excellent yields and very short reaction times. Moreover, the reaction medium was recovered and reused several times without any loss of the efficiency.

An expeditious one-pot synthesis of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines using Fe3O4–ZnO–NH2–PW12O40 nanocatalyst

An efficient protocol for the facile synthesis of a series of pyrido[2,3- d]pyrimidine derivatives has been developed applying Fe3O4–ZnO–NH2–PW12O40 nanocatalyst in water. This novel method has the benefits of operational simplicity, green aspects by avoiding toxic solvents and high to excellent yields of products. Fe3O4–ZnO–NH2–PW12O40 was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analyses. The nanocatalyst is readily isolated and recovered from the reaction mixture by an external magnet.

Expedient multicomponent synthesis of a small library of some novel highly substituted pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives mediated and promoted by deep eutectic solvent and in vitro and quantum mechanical study of their antibacterial and antifungal activities

A facile and efficient catalyst- and oxidant-free multicomponent synthesis of a small library of highly substituted pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives is reported. The products were obtained within relatively short reaction times in good to excellent yields in the presence of deep eutectic solvents as media and promoters. Simple purification and reusability of the deep eutectic solvent were the other beneficial factors of the reported protocol. All of the synthesized derivatives were thoroughly screened for possible in vitro antibacterial and antifungal effects against twenty-two bacterial and three fungal pathogens. Some of the prepared pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives showed remarkable antibacterial and antifungal activities in comparison with some typical known antibacterial and antifungal agents. Finally, the derivatives possessing bioactivity effects were subjected to quantum chemical computational studies in order to reveal the probable structural and electronic effects governing the spotted bioactivities. It was found that the observed bioactivities could be best devoted to the HOMO-LUMO energy gap and para delocalization index of the corresponding derivatives.

A practical green approach to diversified spirochromene/spiropyran scaffolds via a glucose–water synergy driven organocatalytic system

Development of a versatile, new glucose–water organocatalytic system promoted, one pot, practical green method for the synthesis of diversified spirochromenes/spiropyrans is reported.

Bioorganopromoted green Friedländer synthesis: a versatile new malic acid promoted solvent free approach to multisubstituted quinolines

An efficient new strategy for the green synthesis of a variety of polysubstituted quinolines, using the Friedländer approach is reported, employing malic acid as a catalyst in organic synthesis for the first time.

A convenient electro-catalyzed multicomponent synthesis of 4H-thiopyran derivatives

A convenient one pot electro-synthesis of 4H-thiopyrans by condensation of aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, carbon disulfide and primary amines.