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Pure Appl. Chem., 2013, Vol. 85, No. 8, pp. 1703-1710

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/PAC-CON-13-01-15

Published online 2013-06-29

Greener routes to organics and nanomaterials: Sustainable applications of nanocatalysts

Rajender S. Varma

Clean Processes Branch, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, MS 443, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA

Abstract: Sustainable synthetic activity involving alternate energy input and greener reaction medium under aqueous or solvent-free conditions is summarized. This includes the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, coupling reactions, and a variety of reactions catalyzed by basic water or recyclable and reusable magnetic nanocatalysts in aqueous media using microwave (MW) irradiation. Micropine-structured catalysts and magnetic nanoferrites and their post-synthetic modification with ligands and other nanometals serve as sustainable nanocatalysts in benign media. The strategic approach attempts to fulfill most of the green chemistry principles in a comprehensive manner and aims to create sustainable functional chemicals that may find large-scale use with significant waste minimization.