Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract: A solvent-free approach for organic synthesis is described which involves microwave (MW) exposure of neat reactants (undiluted) either in the presence of a catalyst or catalyzed by the surfaces of inexpensive and recyclable mineral supports such as alumina, silica, clay, or "doped" surfaces, namely, Fe(NO₃)₃-clay (clayfen), Cu(NO₃)₂-clay (claycop), NH₂OH-clay, PhI(OAc)₂-alumina, NaIO₄-silica, MnO₂-silica, and NaBH₄-clay. A variety of deprotection, condensation, cyclization, oxidation, and reduction reactions are presented including the efficient one-pot assembly of heterocyclic molecules from in situ generated intermediates such as enamines and a-tosyloxyketones. The application of this solvent-free MW approach to multicomponent reactions is highlighted that can be adapted for high-speed parallel synthesis of the library of dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-ones and imidazo [1,2-a]annulated pyridines, pyrazines, and pyrimidines.