Title:How Important is the Metal-free Catalytic Knoevenagel Reaction in
Medicinal Chemistry? An Updated Review
Volume: 31
Issue: 27
Author(s): Suzaimi Johari, Mohd Rafie Johan and Nader Ghaffari Khaligh*
Affiliation:
- Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Center, Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), University of Malaya,
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Keywords:
Knoevenagel condensation, anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, antivirus, antidiabetic.
Abstract: The Knoevenagel condensation is a powerful and primary step for the development
of carbon-carbon bond transformations. These condensations offer versatile products/
intermediates for diverse uses in polymers, cosmetics, chemical industries, and medicinal
chemistry. Various homogenous and heterogenous catalysts have been found to
promote the Knoevenagel condensation reaction, both environmentally and economically.
Due to their attractive use in the production of pharmaceutical drugs, they are proven to be
the main force that drives the synthesis involving numerous multi-component and multistep
reactions. The present study, therefore, aims to summarise reported Knoevenagel
condensation reactions using metal-free catalysts resulting in pharmaceutically useful
compounds with anti-cancer, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-malarial, anti-diabetic, and anti-
bacterial activities. By considering factors like their structure-activity relationships
(SARs), the reaction conditions, and the steps involved, as well as the advantages and limitations
of the particular approach, we also provide a general framework and direction in
order to achieve superior characteristics of the catalyst.