Lewis Acid Surfactant Combined (LASC) Catalyst as a Versatile Heterogeneous Catalyst in Various Organic Transformations

Abstract

Surfactant Aided Lewis Acids (LASCs) make an appearance as one of the efficient and substantial heterogeneous catalysts. Recently, various LASCs have been used as green and heterogeneous catalysts in organic synthesis due to their high water stability, recyclability, cost-effective nature and their ability to create stable colloidal dispersions. In the present review, we have discussed a variety of carbon-carbon bond forming, ring opening, addition and multi-component reactions for the synthesis of various biologically important heterocyclic compounds that have been successfully catalyzed by LASCs. In most cases, the catalytic activity of LASCs was found to be better in water in comparison to other organic solvents, which attracts special attention towards the present review.

Synthetic Organic “Aquachemistry” that Relies on Neither Cosolvents nor Surfactants

“…It was reported that the amount of organic waste that is produced can be reduced tremendously by the use of 10 –2 to 10 –4 M surfactant solutions instead of 100% organic solvents. 10 Extensive efforts to realize the maximum effect of surfactants even under dilute conditions (especially catalytic amounts) resulted in the advent of designed nonionic surfactants 11 and surfactant-combined catalysts such as metal dodecylsulfates 12 or amphiphilic ligands. 13 In parallel, the use of dilute solutions of these surfactants has enabled multifarious catalytic reactions including asymmetric synthesis to be performed without the assistance of organic solvents.…”