Poly ethylene glycols 400, 600, 4000 and 6000) supported reactions were conducted with certain α, β-unsaturated acids in presence of metal nitrates under solvent free (solid state) and mineral acid free conditions. The reactants were ground in a mortar with a pestle for about 30 minutes. The aromatic acids underwent nitro decarboxylation and afforded β-nitro styrene derivatives in very good yield while α, β-unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acids gave corresponding nitro derivatives. Addition of PEG accelerated rate of the reaction enormously. Reaction times substantially decreased from several hours to few minutes followed by highly significant increase in the product yield. Among the several PEGs PEG-300 has been found to be much more effective than other PEGs.
Oxidation of Xanthine alkaloid have been studied with various one and two electron oxidizing agents using PEGs and micelle forming surfactants. The reaction is too sluggish in solution phase, but moderately fast in presence of PEGs and micelles. However, the reactions are dramatically enhanced under microwave irradiations. Present protocol has several advantages, such as solvent-free conditions, during work-up, fast reaction times, high yields, eco-friendly operational and experimental simplicity, readily available additives as catalysts
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