Greener routes to organics and nanomaterials: Sustainable applications of nanocatalysts

Abstract

Sustainable synthetic activity involving alternate energy input and greener reaction medium under aqueous or solvent-free conditions is summarized. This includes the syn thesis of heterocyclic compounds, coupling reactions, and a variety of reactions catalyzed by basic water or recyclable and reusable magnetic nanocatalysts in aqueous media using microwave (MW) irradiation. Micropine-structured catalysts and magnetic nanoferrites and their postsynthetic modification with ligands and other nanometals serve as sustainable nanocatalysts in benign media. The strategic approach attempts to fulfill most of the green chemistry principles in a comprehensive manner and aims to create sustainable functional chemicals that may find large-scale use with significant waste minimization. © 2013 IUPAC.