Chapter 13 - Microwave-assisted catalyst-free organic synthesis

Abstract

The use of microwaves as an environmentally benign energy source in synthetic organic chemistry is described. This chapter discusses the use of microwaves in organic synthesis without a catalyst. Microwave enhanced the rate of reaction through dipolar polarization and ionic conduction mechanism. As the idea of green chemistry came into chemical society, organic synthesis without catalyst has been rapidly established. Chemists switch to microwave-assisted organic synthesis because microwave showed many advantages over conventional heating such as shorter reaction time, no need of catalyst, excellent yield, selectivity, cleaner reaction pathway, etc.