Abstract

MICROWAVE-ASSISTED SYNTHESIS: NEED OF THE HOUR

Joydeb Acharjee, Anirban Ghoshal*, Surajit Kumar Ghosh

ABSTRACT

Objective: Main purpose of our study was to explore and establish the utility and opportunities of microwave technology in carrying out common organic reactions like esterification, hydrolysis, benzoin condensation, benzilic acid rearrangement, Wolf-Kishner reduction and Cannizzaro reaction. Our aim was to use an environment-friendly green chemistry approach in carrying out the reactions, thus causing less exposure to hazardous chemicals. Methods: Conventional synthesis of the organic reactions was performed according to established synthetic procedures in literature. Microwave-assisted synthesis was carried out in CEM Discover Microwave Synthesizer and three parameters were closely monitored: temperature, reaction time and microwave irradiation power. Proper control of these three parameters yielded the desired products in a lesser time with higher yield and purity, as compared to that of conventional synthesis. Results: The synthesized compounds were characterized based on their physicochemical properties (state, colour, melting point, boiling point, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and spectroscopic data (UV, FTIR). The products obtained by microwave synthesis complied with that of conventional method, but with higher purity, better yield, lesser reaction time and less exposure to hazardous chemicals. Conclusion: Some common organic reactions were successfully exercised using microwave irradiation giving higher purity and better yield of the products as compared to that of conventional synthesis in a shorter span of time. Thus, we successfully carried out our synthetic work and believe that microwave-assisted synthesis will greatly help the scientific community, specially the students to perform complex organic reactions in a simple manner in the coming days.

Keywords: Microwave-assisted synthesis, conventional, hazardous, purity, environmentfriendly.