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Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Bio-Active Heterocycles and Fine Chemicals in Aqueous Media
Citation:
Polshettiwar, V. AND R. S. VARMA. Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Bio-Active Heterocycles and Fine Chemicals in Aqueous Media. Chapter 4, Aqueous Microwave Assisted Chemistry: Synthesis and Catalysis, ISBN: 978-1-84973-099-0 . RSC Publishing, Cambridge, Uk, 7:91-22, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Human health, especially in the aging population, mostly depends on various medicines, and researchers are combating against emerging diseases by new drug discovery. Heterocyclic compounds hold a special place among pharmaceutically active natural products as well as synthetic compounds.1,2 The outstanding nature of heterocyclic nuclei to act as biomimetics and pharmacophores has extensively contributed to their unique value as traditional key elements of numerous drugs. Heterocycles have the enormous ability to selectively influence the activity of biological systems. Thus, in both lead identification and optimization processes, there is an acute need for new heterocycle-based active molecules. However, pathways currently used for drug discovery are not sustainable in terms of the time required for synthesis of new bio-active molecules. Conventional methods of organic synthesis are orders of magnitude too slow to satisfy the demand for the preparation of new compounds. Combinatorial and automated medicinal chemistry sub-disciplines have emerged to meet the increasing requirement of new compounds for drug discovery, where speed is of the essence.3 While most of these techniques are rapid and productive, they generate considerable quantities of chemical waste. Synthetic chemists have been under increasing pressure to produce, in an environmentally benign fashion, the numerous bio-active heterocyclic-based new drugs required to protect our heath in a short period of time. One of the alternatives is to use non-conventional microwave (MW) heating.
