Eco-compatible syntheses of pharmaceutical and natural molecules via microwave-assisted chemistry

In a closed future, the use of adapted reactants and techniques offering operational, economical and environmental benefits, over conventional methods, will be crucial in the preparation and development of molecules possessing a biological activity. Introduction of cleaner technologies, like microwaves, has become a major concern throughout both industry and academia [1]. This is a consequence of the recent availability of commercial microwave systems specific for synthesis, which offers improved opportunities for reproducibility, rapid synthesis, rapid reaction optimisation and the potential discovery of new chemistries. Results presented have the hope to change the chemistry mainly performed in the pharmaceutical industry and also in academic laboratories. Elaboration of a library of „microwave-reacting molecules“ may be introduced in laboratories and factories, associated with the development of such a technology which needs to be more established, controlled and safely reproduced in order to be completely adopted by a large amount of chemists.

Acknowledgements: We thank Milestone srl (Italy) for multiform support.

References:1. Lidström, P., Tierney, J.P. (2005) Microwave-Assisted Organic Synthesis; Blackwell Publishing: Oxford,

2. Gupta, R.R (2006)Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry Vol.1 Springer

3. Loupy, A. (2006) Microwaves in organic synthesis. Whiley-VCH Verlag Gmbh & Co. KGaA, Weinhein.