From traditional to greener alternatives: potential of plant resources as a biotransformation tool in organic synthesis

Abstract

Modern synthetic chemistry encompasses the challenge of establishing sustainable, cost-effective reaction alternatives that prevent waste and pollution and here, catalysis plays a vital role. The use of traditional, expensive, and harmful reagents, however, poses a serious threat to the environment. Therefore, discovering green catalytic methods to replace these traditional approaches is essential and can have a big influence on the environment. Bio-derived catalysis using enzymes, acids, and metal ions present in plant extracts and fruit juices has shown great potential in replacing conventional reagents and solvents. In this review, we focus on highlighting the most significant innovations that have been achieved by using plant sources (e.g., fruit juices and extracts) as a contemporary bio-transformation tool for establishing C–C, C–H, and C–X bonds to promote sustainable and green chemistry practices. Overall, this review provides insights into the potential of plant-derived chemical agents as an alternative to traditional reagents in organic chemistry. The use of these natural feedstocks can lead us to more sustainable and cleaner chemical synthesis, which is critical in our current times of increasing environmental concern.