Advances in Organic Synthesis

Cancer is among the most severe risks to the global human population. The enduring crisis of drug-resistant cancer and the limited selectivity of anticancer drugs are significant roadblocks to its control and eradication, requiring the identification of new anticancer entities. The stable aromatic nature, reversible redox properties, and low toxicity of ferrocene revolutionized medicinal organometallic chemistry, providing us with bioferrocene compounds with excellent antiproliferative potential, which has been the focus of persistent efforts in recent years. Substituting the aryl/heteroaryl core for ferrocene in an organic molecule alters its molecular characteristics, including solubility, hydro-/lipophilicity, as well as bioactivities. Ferrocifen (ferrocene analogues of hydroxytamoxifen) has shown antiproliferative potential in both hormone-dependent (MCF-7) and hormone-independent (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. It is now in pre-clinical trials against malignancies. These entities operate through various targets, some of which have been revealed and activated in response to product concentrations. They also react to the cancer cells by diverse mechanisms that can work in concert or in isolation, depending on signaling pathways that promote senescence or death. The behavior of ferrocene-containing hybrids with a range of anticancer targets is explained in this chapter.

Nitrogenated heterocycles take part in the structure of many natural products and agents with important biological activity, such as antiviral, antibiotic and antitumor drugs. For this reason, heterocyclic compounds are one of the most desired synthetic targets nowadays. In this review work, the literature related to the preparation of polyheterocyclic compounds by using the intramolecular Povarov reaction will be collected. The Povarov reaction is a process in which aromatic amines, carbonyl compounds and olefins or acetylenes participate to give rise to the formation of the nitrogenated compounds. Then, intramolecular Povarov reactions to carry out these syntheses are described according to the key processes involved; catalytic reactions with transition metals will be included discussing the reaction mechanisms and examining the effect of catalysts and solvents in the preparation of the products, thus reflecting the synthetic potential of this strategy. Moreover, applications of prepared compounds will also be considered.

Barbituric acid is an organic compound containing a pyrimidine heterocyclic skeleton. It is a water-soluble and odorless compound. Barbituric acid served as a starting material for many barbiturate drugs. The variable properties of the products achieved from barbituric acid motivate organic chemists to investigate its chemistry and current developments have suggested it by multicomponent reactions (MCR). Barbituric acid and its derivatives, commonly known as barbiturates, are important in pharmaceutical chemistry because they are fascinating building blocks for synthesizing biologically active compounds. The first barbiturate to be prepared was Barbital (5, 5-diethyl barbituric acid), and it is hypnotic and sedative and was used as an anxiolytic and sleeping aid. Barbituric acid derivatives act on the central nervous system and are used as sedatives, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, and hypnotics. Recent investigations show that barbituric acid derivatives may have applications in matrix metalloproteinases, inhibiting collagen-ase-3 (MMP-3), anti-invasive, recombinant cytochrome P450 enzymes, fungicides, methionine aminopeptidase-1 (MetAP-1), herbicides, antibacterial, anti-tumor antiangiogenic, antioxidant, antiviral, and HIV-1 integrase inhibitors. Furthermore, recent literature accounts have shown that barbituric acid derivatives may also perform as immune modulators. Barbituric acid has been exploited in designing and preparing various types of carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds. An extensive range of multicomponent reactions utilize barbituric acid as a starting material. By using the Knoevenagel condensation reaction, a wide range of barbiturate drugs, that act as central nervous system depressants can be synthesized using barbituric acid. Barbituric acid is a precursor in the laboratory production of riboflavin (vitamin B2 ).

Ionic liquids (ILs) are receiving increased enticement from synthetic organic chemists; world-wide due to their extraordinary physicochemical properties. The wide-ranging applications of ionic liquids as solvents and catalysts in organic synthesis are mainly due to their non-volatile nature which arises from very low vapor pressures. Since the past few decades, researchers have explored the efficacy of these designer solvents as green substitutes of toxic and volatile organic solvents for a variety of value added synthetic organic reactions. Furthermore, the tremendous potential of ILs as catalysts is also worth mentioning. Unlike organic solvents of comparable polarity, they often act as catalysts in various organic reactions. Thus, the present chapter aims at observing and exploring the application of ionic liquids as solvents and catalysts in various synthetic organic reactions. The green chemistry aspects of the solvent as well as the catalytic use of ionic liquids in order to develop environmentally benign organic synthesis is also the focus of discussion in this chapter. 

Semiconducting metal oxide nanomaterials are the future potential materials for biomedical applications. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials are developed by using the organic synthesis process for excellent biocompatibility, selectivity, sensitivity, good chemical stability, non-toxicity, and fast electron transfer properties. They have a high surface-to-volume ratio that performs proper contouring on the human body to feel comfortable. Recent advanced studies on these nanomaterials show that they are promising materials for effective antibacterial and antifungal agents against a variety of microbes. They also promise to provide advanced technology for biomedical applications that can be used to destroy several types of malignant cells in the human body. Moreover, they can be used as antibacterial agents in the human body. This chapter briefly discusses the cost-effective approach to organically synthesizing ZnO nanomaterials. Moreover, these ideas can be developed to characterize these materials as biomaterials to perform easily upscaled in biomedical applications.

The contemporary era of studying superhydrophobic surfaces began in 1997, when Neinhuis and Barthlott discovered the self-cleaning qualities of the lotus effect. Corrosion of steel represents an important industrial issue with well-known negative economic and environmental consequences. The protection of steel objects during service operations is an inexhaustible research subject because of the steel's high demand in the industry. Anticorrosive coatings have aided in extending the life of the material without impairing its bulk qualities. The microporous structure of polymers allows corrosive ions to pass at the coating–metal interface, resulting in poor serviceability. Advanced structural modifications, such as polymeric nanocomposites, have been used to solve these disadvantages. Organic-inorganic nanocomposites are employed as outstanding anti-corrosive coatings to provide steel constructions' service longevity. Superhydrophobic nanocomposite coatings tend to be one of the most promising methods for avoiding corrosion in steel. Various nanostructured fillers have the ability to significantly improve the corrosion-barrier efficiency of polymeric coatings. Superhydrophobicity in nature will be briefly addressed to provide a comprehensive study. This chapter focuses on introducing the anticorrosive properties of superhydrophobic coatings. It gives an overview of present and advanced research developments, such as graphene nanocomposite surfaces. 

Polypropylene is a semicrystalline thermoplastic addition polymer used in several applications, such as plastic parts for many industries, consumer product packaging, special devices like living hinges, and textiles. Thanks to its excellent properties, it could be used only or in a nanocomposite system. This article presents the different types of nanoparticles used for the enhancement of thermo-mechanical and physical behaviors of PP nanocomposites. The analysis of morphologies and thermo-mechanical behaviors of virgin PP nanocomposites are described. Moreover, this paper also discusses the improvements of properties of waste PP by nanoparticle incorporation. Finally, the last section of the paper covers a case study about influence of clay nanoparticles on waste PP based nanocomposites.