Title:The Art of Total Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Products via Microwaves
Volume: 25
Issue: 9
Author(s): Sasadhar Majhi*
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemistry (UG & PG Department), Triveni Devi Bhalotia College, Raniganj, Kazi Nazrul University, West Bengal- 713347,India
Keywords:
Bioactive natural products, drug discovery, microwave irradiation, pharmacological aspects, sustainable Chemistry, total
synthesis.
Abstract: Natural products are the most effective source of potential drug leads. The total
synthesis of bioactive natural products plays a crucial role in confirming the hypothetical
complex structure of natural products in the laboratory. The total synthesis of rare bioactive
natural products is one of the great challenges for the organic synthetic community due to
their complex structures, biochemical specificity, and difficult stereochemistry. Subsequently,
the total synthesis is a long process in several cases, and it requires a substantial amount of
time. Microwave irradiation has emerged as a greener tool in organic methodologies to reduce
reaction time from days and hours to minutes and seconds. Moreover, this non-classical
methodology increases product yields and purities, improves reproducibility, modifications of
selectivity, simplification of work-up methods, and reduces unwanted side reactions. Such
beneficial qualities have stimulated this review to cover the application of microwave irradiation in the field of the
total synthesis of bioactive natural products for the first time during the last decade. An overview of the use of microwave
irradiation, natural sources, structures, and biological activities of secondary metabolites is presented elegantly,
focusing on the involvement of at least one or more steps by microwave irradiation as a green technique.