Pineapple Juice : An Excellent Catalyst for Biginelli Reaction

Pineapple is almost everyone's favorite fruit and favorite juice. but not only is it good to consume, its also great for chemical reactions and green chemistry; cleaner ways to make pharmaceutical products. 

An efficient and greener synthesis of a series of dihydropyrimidinone (DHPMs) derivatives were accomplished via three-component one-pot cyclocondensation between substituted aryl aldehydes, diketone/ke- toester and urea. This solvent free approach is totally nonpolluting having several advantages such as shorter reaction time, mild reaction conditions, simple workup and reduced environmental impact.

What are dihydropyrimidinone (DHPMs) and what are they used for?

DHPMs are compounds with broad biological activities and is therefore an important class of organic compounds. DHPMs can be used as calcium channel modulators, calcium antagonists, vasodilators and antihypersensitives.

What is the Biginelli Reaction?

The Biginelli reaction is a chemical reaction that consists of multiple-components that creates 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones (4) from ethyl acetoacetate (1), an aryl aldehyde (such asbenzaldehyde (2), and urea (3). It is named after the Italian chemist Pietro Biginelli.

So what does this research conclude?

It concludes that pineapple juice can be used as a catalysts for Biginelli reaction, under solvent free conditions and higher yields of product. This research was conducted to show that it is possible to use eco-freindly catalysts/ chemicals which are safe and cleaner for the environment and is non-polluting.
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References:

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biginelli_reaction
2) http://www.scirp.org/Journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=7450&utm_campaign=linkedin&utm_medium=zc#.VM-Ya52sWSo