A review on multi-component green synthesis of N-containing heterocycles using mixed oxides as heterogeneous catalysts

The use of mixed oxides is a well-appreciated approach in the fields of material science and synthesis, due to remarkable tunable surface properties such as acidic and basic characteristics, oxidation/reduction capabilities, and high agility of lattice oxygen, which makes them ideal choices as heterogeneous catalysts. The activity of the mixed oxides broadly relies on the nature of support and active material used and on the preparation method, calcination temperatures. Wide range of techniques for preparation of mixed oxide materials are adoptable, viz. sol-gel, co-precipitation, wet impregnation, microwave irradiation and hydrothermal methods. Use of mixed oxides as solid catalysts have gained popularity in many valued organic transformations, via alkylation, oxidation, condensation, dehydration, dehydrogenation, cycloaddition and isomerization. Application of mixed oxides in the area of green organic synthesis is a valuable strategy, which contributed significantly to the design of many novel heterocyclic scaffolds. The chemistry of N-heterocycle scaffolds, which generally possess five and six membered rings, is an interesting area for both synthetic and medicinal chemistry research constituting over 60% organics used in various arenas. The position and number of nitrogen atoms in the rings, distinguish them as pyrroles, pyrazoles, imidazoles, triazoles, pyridines and pyramidines classes. In this review, we focus on the scope, importance and versatile applications of mixed metal oxides and their synergetic effects as heterogeneous catalysts in the synthesis of variety of N-heterocyclic derivatives. The scientific aspects of the mixed oxides as catalytic active materials to design efficient synthetic protocols for the organic transformations is also discussed.