GREEN CHEMISTRY || SEM 6 || RANCHI UNIVERSITY

GREEN CHEMISTRY

Introduction to Green Chemistry 

What is Green Chemistry? Need for Green Chemistry. Goals of Green Chemistry. 

Limitations/ Obstacles in the pursuit of the goals of Green Chemistry. 

(4 Lectures) 

Principles of Green Chemistry and Designing a Chemical synthesis 

Twelve principles of Green Chemistry with their explanations and examples; Designing a Green 

Synthesis using these principles; Prevention of Waste/ byproducts; maximum incorporation of the 

materials used in the process into the final products (Atom Economy); prevention/ minimization of 

hazardous/ toxic products; designing safer chemicals – different basic approaches to do so; selection 

of appropriate auxiliary substances (solvents, separation agents), green solvents, solventless processes, 

immobilized solvents and ionic liquids; energy requirements for reactions - use of microwaves, 

ultrasonic energy; selection of starting materials; avoidance of unnecessary derivatization – 

careful use of blocking/protecting groups; use of catalytic reagents (wherever possible) in preference 

to stoichiometric reagents; designing of biodegradable products; prevention of chemical accidents; 

strengthening/ development of analytical techniques to prevent and minimize the generation of 

hazardous substances in chemical processes. 

(24 Lectures) 

Examples of Green Synthesis/ Reactions 

1. Green Synthesis of the following compounds: adipic acid, catechol, BHT, methyl methacrylate, 

urethane, aromatic amines (4-aminodiphenylamine), benzyl bromide, acetaldehyde, disodium iminodiacetate (alternative to Strecker synthesis), citral, ibuprofen, paracetamol, furfural. 

2. Microwave assisted reactions in water: Hofmann Elimination, Hydrolysis (of benzyl chloride, 

benzamide, n-phenyl benzamide, methylbenzoate to benzole acid), Oxidation (of toluene, alcohols). 

Microwave assisted reactions in organic solvents: Esterification, Fries rearrangement, Orthoester 

Claisen Rearrangement, Diels-Alder Reaction, Decarboxylation. 

3.Microwave assisted solid state reactions: Deacetylation, Deprotection. Saponification of esters, 

Alkylation of reactive methylene compounds, reductions, synthesis of nitriles from aldehydes; 

anhydrides from dicarboxylic acid; pyrimidine and pyridine derivatives; 1,2-dihydrotriazine 

derivatives; benzimidazoles. 

4. Ultrasound assisted reactions:

Esterification, saponification, substitution reactions, Alkylations, 

oxidation, reduction, coupling reaction, Cannizaro reaction, Strecker synthesis, Reformatsky reaction.