Current Organic Chemistry - Volume 25, Issue 10, 2021

Historically, medicinal chemistry has been concerned with the approach of organic chemistry for new drug synthesis. Considering the fruitful collections of new molecular entities, the dedicated efforts for medicinal chemistry are rewarding. Planning and search for new and applicable pharmacologic therapies involve the altruistic nature of the scientists. Since the 19th century, notoriously applying isolated and characterized plant-derived compounds in modern drug discovery and various stages of clinical development highlight its viability and significance. Natural products influence a broad range of biological processes, covering transcription, translation, and post-translational modification, being effective modulators of most basic cellular processes. The research of new chemical entities through “click chemistry” continuously opens up a map for the remarkable exploration of chemical space towards leading natural products optimization by structure-activity relationship. Finally, in this review, we expect to gather a broad knowledge involving triazolic natural product derivatives, synthetic routes, structures, and their biological activities.

C-X (X = halogen) bonds are indispensable functional groups in organic synthesis by mediating a massive number of important organic reactions. While a variety of different catalytic strategies are available for generating C-X bonds, those methods enabling the C-X bond formation under transition metal-free conditions via the C-H bond functionalization are particularly interesting because of the inherent atom economy and environmental friendliness associated with such methods. Herein, the advancements in the transition metal-free halogenation of C(sp²)-H bond are reviewed.

Green chemistry is an essential part of the organic synthesis chemistry and plays a principal role in saving the environment from harmful and toxic catalysts. Fruit juice catalyzed chemistry is a vital part of green chemistry in which lemon juice plays a potential role in various organic transformations. This review article summarizes (from 2011-2020) the application and importance of lemon juice in synthetic organic transformation as well as synthesis of various type of nanoparticles and catalysts. This review article can help the researchers to develop the route for the synthesis of various scaffolds, small molecules, nanoparticles and catalysts under economical and environment friendly condition.

The chemistry and pharmacology of the important Vinca alkaloids such as vinblastine and vincristine used in anticancer therapy are still investigated widely. Several new derivatives, e.g., vinflunine, vinorelbine, and vindesine, have been synthesized and become successful medicines in anti-cancer therapy. In 2012, we published a paper that reviewed the Vinca derivatives. Nevertheless, the interest in the preparation of new modified structures is not decreasing either in recent years. In this review, the vinblastine-type molecules with several substituents, e.g., amide, nitrile, hydrazide, substituted side chains, etc. in different positions of catharanthine and/or vindoline cores are presented. An important part of the review is the derivatization of the monomer alkaloid vindoline, which possesses no antitumor effect. Additionally, new hybrid molecules of these alkaloids are also discussed in this mini-review.

In recent years, the development of the chemical industry has been moving in a green, safe and efficient direction. Oxidation reactions are one of the most important types of reactions and have key applications in food, medicine, cosmetics, and petrochemicals. However, the occurrence of the oxidation reaction is accompanied by a strong exothermic phenomenon, and improper control can easily lead to safety problems and even explosions. The realization of an environmentally friendly oxidation reaction is a key industrial milestone. The unique structural characteristics of microreactors result in good mass and heat transfer performance, precise control of the reaction temperature, reduced risk of explosion, improved safety production and selectivity of products. These unique advantages of the microreactor determine its significant application value in oxidation reactions. In this paper, the research progress of several typical oxidation reactions, including alkane oxidation, alcohol oxidation, aldosterone oxidation, aromatics oxidation and olefin oxidation combined with microreactors, is reviewed systematically.