Multicomponent reactions (MCR) in medicinal chemistry: a patent review (2010-2020)

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Multicomponent reactions (MCR) has been utilized to synthesize a vast range of analogs belonging to diverse classes of heterocyclic compounds offering multidimensional pharmaceutical applications. The unique feature of MCR includes the synthesis of highly functionalized molecules in a single pot to build quick libraries of compounds of biological interest to identify new leads as potential therapeutic agents.

Area covered: The current review article covers the patents published in the last decade in order to highlight the importance of multicomponent reactions for synthesizing complex-functionalized molecules of high biological significance.

Expert opinion: Easily automated one-pot multicomponent reactions (MCRs) has demonstrated successful impact at different stages of the lead discovery, lead optimization, and pre-clinical process development arenas. Application of MCRs is the recent advancement in the field of drug design and discovery which will expectedly lead to the development of medicinally important heterocyclic compounds with a vast range of biological activities.

KEYWORDS:

• Multicomponent reaction
• heterocyclic compounds
• different classes
• biological activities

Article highlights

• Multicomponent reactions have unique importance in organic synthesis to prepare highly functionalized molecules.

• A range of libraries of different compounds can be prepared.

• Multicomponent reactions can be performed in eco-friendly reaction medium.

• Biological evaluation of various types of compounds provide good lead for the development of new therapeutic agents.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are thankful to the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Pakistan for providing financial support to Project No. [5-9/PAS/440].