Recent Developments in Rongalite Chemistry: A Critical Review

Abstract

AbstractRongalite whose chemical structure was discovered in 1905, is an inexpensive, easily assessable, and copious industrial product, which has significantly been used for a long time in rubber, dye, and veterinary industries. Moreover, it has also been used as an antidote against several heavy metals poisoning, in addition to its applications in the photographic developer and veterinary medicines. Gratifyingly, Rongalite has also shown its uses as the fungicidal, bactericidal and antioxidant in pharmaceutical formulation. Besides, it has also been used in material sciences, and also as a viable cosmetic hair‐dye‐color removers. Interestingly, in past decade, it has shown its high‐impact in the arena of synthetic organic chemistry serving as SO22− equivalent, C1 synthon donor, reducing agent/radical initiator or proton source ‐ to assemble diverse intricate organic molecules under operationally simple yet efficient conditions. However, the services of multiple features of Rongalite in synthetic chemistry are still at the research stage, and needs to be sophisticated to a higher level in many years to come. Considering the synthetic importance of this valued reagent, this review article presents the advancement made in the field of Rongalite chemistry in the past three years. This review article will update the researchers working in this arena about the advancement of Rongalite in the synthetic organic transformations as well as it will help readers wishing to deal with this easy‐to handle and eco‐friendly low‐cost commodity chemical. This review article updating the rongalite chemistry will be useful to the chemical community in general and synthetic chemists in particular.