Electrosynthesis of amide: A green pathway for future pharmaceuticals

Amide bonds are prevalent in peptides, synthetic polymers, insecticides, and pharmaceuticals. These bonds play a critical role in medicinal chemistry due to their stability, ability to interact with biological targets, and flexibility in designing bioactive compounds. Many methods have been devised to date for the synthesis of amides, however the majority of them rely on coupling agents and an excess of bases to neutralize the acid produced during the reaction. These techniques have low atom economy and generate a lot of waste, making them unfriendly to the environment. Greener chemical methods have been developed as a result of the growing worldwide awareness of environmental issues and the drive towards sustainability. In this context, new approaches are being developed based on the concepts of green and sustainable chemistry, particularly through emerging research utilizing organic electrosynthesis. This review aims to demonstrate the application of sustainable amide electrosynthesis as a green chemistry pathway for the development of future pharmaceuticals.