Applications of Nano-ZrO2 in Synthesis of Heterocycles

Abstract

Over the past decade, metal-oxide nanoparticles have attracted the scientific community due to their extensive use in medicinal and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, metal-based nanoparticles have made extraordinary development as a catalyst in the construction of diversely functionalized heterocycles. There is a surge of applications of nano metal oxides as a mild, inexpensive, efficient, green, reusable, heterogeneous catalyst for various organic transformations. Among numerous metal oxide nanoparticles, zirconia-based catalysts find wide applications to construct a diverse range of heterocycles using multicomponent reactions. The current article selectively reviews the applications of nano-ZrO₂ as a useful heterogeneous catalyst for the one-pot green synthesis of a variety of heterocyclic scaffolds reported from 2011 onward. This review is divided into five sections: synthesis of i) five-membered heterocycles with one heteroatom, ii) five-membered heterocycles with two heteroatoms, iii) five-membered heterocycles with three/four heteroatoms, iv) six-membered heterocycles, and v) tandem construction of two heterocycles.