Revisit to the synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted pyrrole derivatives in lactic acid media as a green solvent and catalyst.

In this study, for the first time, lactic acid was used as a bio-based green catalyst and reaction medium for the synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted pyrrole derivatives from one-pot three-component reaction of commercially available primary amines, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, and trans-ß-nitrostyrene at room temperature. Thirty-three corresponding pyrroles, of which eight are novel and have been reported for the first time, were synthesized in high to excellent yields in lactic acid media and characterized by spectroscopic analysis. In all examined cases, lactic acid represented many advantages, including shorter reaction time, ease of product isolation, higher yields, no by-products, no chromatographic process, and lower volatility in the reaction. This bio-based green solvent can also be recycled and reused three times without loss of its efficiency as a catalyst and solvent.

Comparing the effect of sub-critical water extraction with conventional extraction methods on the chemical composition of Lavandula stoechas.

The volatile extract composition of Lavandula stoechas flowers obtained by hydrodistillation (HD), subcrtical water extraction (SbCWE) and organic solvent extraction under ultrasonic irradiation (USE) were estimated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). One hundred and twenty four components were detected in SbCWE extracts while 94 and 65 signals were gained from HD and USE extracts, respectively. Most of the constituents were identified. The major compounds in all three extracts were fenchon, camphor, myrtenyl acetate, myrtenol and 1,8-cineol, but they differ in quantitatively. The total monoterpene hydrocarbons are higher in HD and USE extracts than those of SbCWE extract. However, SbCWE extract had higher concentration of light oxygenated compounds which contributes to the fragrance of the oil in a major extension. Heavy-oxygenated compounds was also in higher abundance in SbCWE extract (9.90%) than those of HD and USE extracts (3.19 and 4.78%, respectively). Effect of temperature on the extraction yield of SbCWE was investigated and while oil yield was increasing with an increase in temperature, a decrease in the extraction ability of sub-critical water toward the more polar compounds such as, 1,8-cineol, camphor and fenchon, was observed. Kinetic studies shown that SbCWE is clearly quicker than conventional alternatives. Most of components of volatile compounds were extracted at 15min.