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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
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Paper ID:
10.55041/IJSREM.ISTCESD029
Volume:
10 |
9 |
Sep 2026
Pages:
1-7
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Research Student
Research Student
Synthetic organic chemistry has progressed substantially during the last two decades through a combination of new catalytic modes, sustainable strategies, and automation. In this review article, key advances in modern synthetic chemistry are surveyed. First, progress in catalysis, both transition-metal and organocatalysis, is discussed – with an emphasis on their role in enabling highly selective and enantioselective bond formations. Additionally, photoredox and electrochemical approaches are highlighted for their ability to generate reactive radicals under exceptionally mild and green reaction conditions. More recently, advances in C–H bond activation and late-stage functionalization have opened the possibility to directly modify unactivated C–H bonds and streamline the synthesis of complex molecules. In terms of sustainable chemistry, methods and approaches that minimize waste – including the use of benign solvents and/or reduced E-factors – have been actively pursued and biocatalysis and flow processing play important roles. Furthermore, the use of continuous-flow reactors, high-throughput automation, and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) approaches have facilitated the acceleration of reaction development and scale-up. In this context, the development of biocatalysis strategies for small-molecule synthesis and its associated challenges are discussed. A number of illustrative figures (e.g. reaction schemes) are presented throughout the review to highlight various concepts.
KEYWORDS
Modern chemistry is multifaceted and complex, offering many opportunities for innovation. Catalysis, which plays a crucial role in all three of the leading strategies (transition metal, organic, and biocatalysis), continues to be at the forefront of research. The use of transition metals, in particular, has led to the development of new approaches such as photoredox and electrosynthesis, which in turn have opened the door to new reactions. In addition, the ability to modify previously inert bonds in molecules using C-H activation will allow chemists to develop new, more convenient synthetic routes. Finally, the desire to create sustainable and scalable processes puts green chemistry at the forefront of scientific and industrial development. Light, electricity, and biocatalysts are increasingly being used as tools for synthesis, while flow chemistry and smart technologies are making the development of new processes much faster and more comfortable. Thus, modern chemists have the opportunity to choose from a vast array of methods and technologies to create target molecules. The convergence of these areas will undoubtedly lead to further sustainable development and the rapid emergence of new ideas that seem impossible to implement today.
· Akita, M. (2025). Dawn of Photoredox Catalysis. Proc. Jpn. Acad. Ser. B Phys. Biol. Sci., 101 (6), 274-301. · Wu, S., Snajdrova, R., Moore, J. C., Baldenius, K., Bornscheuer, U. T. (2021). Biocatalysis: Enzymatic Synthesis for Industrial Applications. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 60 (23), 2726-2748. · Alvaro, D. (2025). Biocatalysis Comes of Age: Redefining Small Molecule API Synthesis. Pharm. Almanac . · Ang, H. T., Miao, Y., Ravelli, D., Wu, J. (2024). Pyridine N-oxides as HAT Reagents for C–H Functionalization. Nature Synthesis , 3 , 568–575. · Velasco, P. Q., Hippalgaonkar, K., Ramalingam, B. (2025). Emerging Trends in Reaction Optimization: High-Throughput and Machine Learning. Beilstein J. Org. Chem., 21 , 10–38. · MacMillan, D. W. C. (2021). Nobel Lecture: Organocatalysis: The Fruit of Many Collaborations. Nobel Lectures in Chemistry (2021). Nobel Archive (2022). · List, B., Yang, H. (2021). Nobel Lecture: Asymmetric Organocatalysis. Nobel Lectures in Chemistry (2021). Nobel Archive (2022).
Publication Date
9/29/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this research work.
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