Trends in greener and sustainable process
development during the past 25 years are abridged involving
the use of alternate energy inputs (mechanochemistry,
ultrasound- or microwave irradiation), photochemistry, and
greener reaction media as applied to synthesis of organics and
nanomaterials. In the organic synthesis arena, examples
comprise assembly of heterocyclic compounds, coupling and a
variety of other name reactions catalyzed by basic water or
recyclable magnetic nanocatalysts. Generation of nanoparticles
benefits from the biomimetic approaches where vitamins,
sugars, and plant polyphenols, including agricultural waste
residues, can serve as reducing and capping agents. Metal
nanocatalysts (Pd, Au, Ag, Ni, Ru, Ce, Cu, etc.) immobilized on
biodegradable supports such as cellulose and chitosan, or on recyclable magnetic ferrites via ligands, namely dopamine or
glutathione, are receiving special attention. These strategic approaches attempt to address most of the Green Chemistry
Principles while producing functional chemicals with utmost level of waste minimization.