Although fire is now rarely used in synthetic chemistry, it was not until Robert Bunsen invented the burner in 1855 that the energy from this heat source could be applied to a reaction vessel in a focused manner. The Bunsen burner was later superseded by the isomantle, oil bath, or hot plate as a source for applying heat to a chemical reaction. In the past few years, heating and driving chemical reactions by microwave energy has been an increasingly popular theme in the scientific community. This nonclassical heating technique is slowly moving from a laboratory curiosity to an established technique that is heavily used in both academia and industry. The efficiency of "microwave flash heating" in dramatically reducing reaction times (from days and hours to minutes and seconds) is just one of the many advantages. This Review highlights recent applications of controlled microwave heating in modern organic synthesis, and discusses some of the underlying phenomena and issues involved.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/anie.200400655

Controlled microwave heating in modern organic synthesis.

http://www.chtf.stuba.sk/~szolcsanyi/education/files/Organicka%20chemia%20II/Prednaska%208_Aminokyseliny%20a%20peptidy/Doplnkove%20studijne%20materialy/Amide%20bond%20formation/Amide%20bond%20formation.pdf

Amide bond formation and peptide coupling

Iron Catalysis in Organic Synthesis

Key green chemistry research areas—a perspective from pharmaceutical manufacturers

The recent advances in the development of heterogeneous catalysts and processes for the direct hydrogenation of CO2 to formate/formic acid, methanol, and dimethyl ether are thoroughly reviewed, with special emphasis on thermodynamics and catalyst design considerations. After introducing the main motivation for the development of such processes, we first summarize the most important aspects of CO2 capture and green routes to produce H2. Once the scene in terms of feedstocks is introduced, we carefully summarize the state of the art in the development of heterogeneous catalysts for these important hydrogenation reactions. Finally, in an attempt to give an order of magnitude regarding CO2 valorization, we critically assess economical aspects of the production of methanol and DME and outline future research and development directions.

/pdf/challenges-in-the-greener-production-of-formates-formic-acid-i3suer910b.pdf

Challenges in the Greener Production of Formates/Formic Acid, Methanol, and DME by Heterogeneously Catalyzed CO2 Hydrogenation Processes.

A variety of ketoximes, easily prepared from the corresponding ketones, undergo the Beckmann rearrangement upon treatment with 2,4,6-trichloro[1,3,5]triazine in N,N-dimethylformamide at room temperature in excellent yields. This procedure can be applied to aldoximes for obtaining the corresponding nitriles.

Beckmann Rearrangement of Oximes under Very Mild Conditions

A Very Mild and Chemoselective Oxidation of Alcohols to Carbonyl Compounds

Efficient oxidation of primary alcohols to the corresponding carboxylic acids can be carried out at room temperature and in acetone/water, using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) in the presence of catalytic TEMPO. The mild conditions of this procedure and the total absence of any transition metal make this reaction suitable for safe laboratory use. A possible mechanism is presented and discussed.

Trichloroisocyanuric/TEMPO oxidation of alcohols under mild conditions: a close investigation

The extraordinary impact of metal-based complexes on synthetic methods is still recognized nowadays, and attempts are currently undertaken to further extend the use of metal-assisted chemistry to e...

Andrea Porcheddu

Papers

Beckmann Rearrangement of Oximes under Very Mild Conditions

A Very Mild and Chemoselective Oxidation of Alcohols to Carbonyl Compounds

Trichloroisocyanuric/TEMPO oxidation of alcohols under mild conditions: a close investigation

Metal-Mediated and Metal-Catalyzed Reactions Under Mechanochemical Conditions

An Efficient Route to Alkyl Chlorides from Alcohols Using the Complex TCT/DMF