Polyethylene glycol: A promising approach for sustainable organic synthesis

Over the last decade, polyethylene glycol (PEG) has emerged as a green and inexpensive catalyst as well as a solvent in a number of chemical transformations. It serves as a stable, recyclable and biodegradable polymeric catalyst in the organic synthesis, as it could be reused several times without significant loss in its catalytic activity. Its properties are environmentally benign as compared to other organic solvents. This artide presents an overview on the use of PEG as a catalyst and a solvent with main emphasis on its role in organic reactions and its usefulness in green synthesis. Moreover, the article focuses on the recent progress made in the PEG catalyzed synthesis of several heterocyclic compounds. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.