Nanocatalysed Synthesis and Biological Significance of Imidazoles, Hydantoins, Oxazoles, and Thiazoles

Abstract

This chapter considers the fundamentals of heterocyclic chemistry and its manifestation in natural products such as vitamins, antibiotics, DNA, and amino acids. Imidazole, benzimidazole, hydantoin, oxazole, benzoxazole, thiazole, and benzothiazole derivatives are recognized as treasured molecules in medicinal, agricultural, and pharmaceutical chemistry. The heterocycles bearing these moieties are reported to be present in numerous biologically active molecules and natural products. Several procedures for the preparation of imidazoles and their numerous structural transformations offer massive possibilities in the area of pharmaceutical chemistry. The catalyst showed extraordinary reactivity for the desired synthesis of a spectrum of imidazoles under mild reaction conditions in short reaction times and was recycled and reused without any substantial loss in reactivity and yields. In all the reactions, products were formed in excellent yields and in short times without the use of volatile organic solvents and in the presence of reusable catalysts and green reaction media.