Recent advances in direct catalytic applications of alginates and alginic acid in organic synthesis

The application of biopolymers in organic chemistry, especially in catalysis, has been an active research area in recent years. Alginates are constituents of brown algae cell walls; they are naturally occurring polysaccharides. Renewability, high surface area, low cost, availability, chemical stability and the abundance of functional groups in their structure make them promising alternatives for oil-derived or hazardous metallic components in catalytic systems. The present review provides an overview of the studies on using alginates in catalytic systems and more profoundly focuses on the reported studies concerning the direct catalytic applications of alginic acid and sodium alginate in organic synthesis. [GRAPHICS] .