Choline Chloride and Urea Based Eutectic Solvents: Effective Catalytic Systems for the Knoevenagel Condensation Reactions of Substituted Acetonitriles

L-Proline-Based Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents as Efficient Solvents and Catalysts for the Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis of Aurones via Knoevenagel Condensation

Aurones are minor flavonoids that possess a wide variety of bioactivity, including antioxidant, anticancer, and enzyme inhibitory activity. L-proline-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) were synthesized and applied as solvents and catalysts for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction between benzofuranone and substituted benzaldehydes to produce aurones in high yields and purity. The reaction between benzofuranone and vanillin served as the model reaction. After screening three NaDESs, and testing microwave, as well as ultrasound as energy sources, we concluded that the optimum results are obtained using L-proline/glycerol 1:2 as catalyst and solvent and ultrasound irradiation. The scope of the reaction was evaluated using a variety of benzaldehydes, and the corresponding aurones were obtained in moderate to satisfactory yields (57–89%) and high purity. An important additional feature of the described methodology is the recyclability and reusability of the NaDES, which was recycled and effectively reused after 6 cycles.

A review of sustainable lignocellulose biorefining applying (natural) deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for separations, catalysis and enzymatic biotransformation processes

Conventional biorefinery processes are complex, engineered and energy-intensive, where biomass fractionation, a key functional step for the production of biomass-derived chemical substances, demands industrial organic solvents and harsh, environmentally harmful reaction conditions. There is a timely, clear and unmet economic need for a systematic, robust and affordable conversion method technology to become greener, sustainable and cost-effective. In this perspective, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been envisaged as the most advanced novel polar liquids that are entirely made of natural, molecular compounds that are capable of an association via hydrogen bonding interactions. DES has quickly emerged in various application functions thanks to a formulations’ simple preparation. These molecules themselves are biobased, renewable, biodegradable and eco-friendly. The present experimental review is providing the state of the art topical overview of trends regarding the employment of DESs in investigated biorefinery-related techniques. This review covers DESs for lignocellulosic component isolation, applications as (co)catalysts and their functionality range in biocatalysis. Furthermore, a special section of the DESs recyclability is included. For DESs to unlock numerous new (reactive) possibilities in future biorefineries, the critical estimation of its complexity in the reaction, separation, or fractionation medium should be addressed more in future studies.

An Extensive Study of Coumarin Synthesis via Knoevenagel Condensation in Choline Chloride Based Deep Eutectic Solvents

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

In order to preserve the environment from harmful organic solvents, a synthesis of coumarin derivatives was performed in deep eutectic solvents, which are considered as "green" due to their characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Choline chloride based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were employed, both as solvents and as catalysts, in the synthesis of coumarin derivatives via Knoevenagel condensation. In order to find the best DES for coumarin synthesis, 20 DESs were tested for the reaction of salicylaldehyde and dimethyl malonate at 80 °C.

RESULTS

Among the twenty tested deep eutectic solvents only five were adequate for this kind of synthesis. The best DES for this reaction was found to be the one composed of choline chloride:urea (1:2). Most coumarin compounds were obtained in good to excellent yield. Compounds 1g, 2g and 2p should be pointed out due to their yields of 85, 88 and 98 %, respectively. 3-Acetylcoumarins 5a, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f and 5g were synthesized under ultrasound irradiation and were also obtained in excellent yields of 90, 95, 98, 93, 94 and 85 %, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Series of coumarin derivatives were successfully synthesized, either in choline chloide:urea DES at 80 °C or in ultrasound-assisted reaction, from different salicylaldehydes and active methylene compounds. These "green" methods were found to be very effective in Knoevenagel condensation, while DES was recycled for several cycles without any significant influence on the product yield.

Recent advances in the application of deep eutectic solvents as sustainable media as well as catalysts in organic reactions

This review highlights the recent advances using deep eutectic solvents (DESs), deep eutectic ionic liquids (DEILs), low-melting mixtures (LMMs) or low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs) as green media as well as catalysts in organic reactions.