Organic Chemistry

Thioamides are versatile tools that are used both as synthetic precursors to complex heterocyclic compounds, and also commercially due to their range of bioactive properties. These include antimicrobial, antioxidant and most notably antithyroid activities among others. Traditional synthesis of thioamides typically employ the use of smelly, multi-step protocols with poor atom economy and cumbersome clean-up. Furthermore, these protocols utilize harsh reaction conditions, long reaction times, limited scope and poor waste management.

Natural products, have long been recognized as a rich and diverse source of biologically active compounds with a wide range of therapeutic applications, and they also constitute a source of renewable and sustainable substrates for the Chan-Lam coupling. The Chan-Lam reaction is a copper-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling that allow the formation of C-Heteroatom bonds, this coupling stands out for its alignment with green chemistry principles, enabling the efficient formation of carbon-heteroatom bonds under environmentally friendly conditions.

Unsymmetrical ethers are generally synthesized via the Williamson ether method, but the unwanted formation of symmetrical ethers plus the basic and harsh conditions of the route pose a synthetic challenge. Other methods employed in the synthesis of unsymmetrical ether require the use of toxic mineral acids, and requires high catalyst loading which limits their large-scale application. Dehydration of alcohols in the presence of base-metal catalyst has, however, recently offered the greenest approach to synthesize unsymmetrical ethers, leaving water as by-product.

This work focuses on the development of sustainable strategies for carbon capture and utilization (CCU), a key technology for mitigating global warming by using CO₂ as a renewable carbon source.

Here we explored the role of quaternary ammonium salts in enhancing CO₂ capture and activation with NaBH₄. The presence of these salts resulted in both shorter reaction times and improved efficiency.

The natural environment is facing several contaminants including hazardous metals, dyes, medicines, and plastics. In particular, plastics, one of the most sought-after synthetic materials, are widely used in a variety of applications, including electronics, building, and packaging, due to their ease of manufacture and low weight. One novel recycling method that has been introduced as a mild and sustainable technology for processing waste plastic is electrochemistry, particularly when driven by renewable energy sources.

Many organic molecules are efficient light emitters used for optoelectronic devices such as OLEDs, due to their advantages over metallic counterparts, including lower toxicity, simpler disposal, and sustainability. However, the methodologies commonly used in organic synthesis to obtain these molecules often rely on harsh conditions and generate large amounts of waste, making them both ineffective and inefficient. This work aligns with some of the principles of green chemistry across different stages.

During the production of quince paste, significant waste is generated, including skin, peel, and seeds. Quince is rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, interesting for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Their extraction is of strategic importance to obtain bioactive ingredients from agro-industrial waste.

Ice formation remains a critical challenge across multiple industries, posing safety risks, economic burdens, and, in extreme cases, fatalities. Effective anti-icing strategies are essential to mitigate these issues, yet the demand for environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient solutions persists. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have emerged as a promising low-toxicity alternative for addressing ice formation.

Diels-Alder (DA) reactions result in the formation of two carbon-carbon bonds of six-membered ring structures with high atom economy. The use of unsaturated organoboranes, which are widely available and exhibit low toxicity, enables the modulation of reactivity and selectivity in these reactions and also allow a variety of subsequent transformations the carbon-boron bond. These characteristics align these reactions with the principles of green chemistry.