Microwave‐assisted synthesis and evaluation of biological activity of novel naphthenic acid derivatives from <scp>V</scp> ojvodina crude oil “ <scp>V</scp> elebit”

Abstract The remediation of tailing water from mining operations remains a critical challenge for the oil sand industry, primarily because of the presence of toxic naphthenic acids (NAs). To explore their potential value‐added utilization, new amides, alcohols, and hydroxamic derivatives of natural naphthenic acids were synthesized in the absence of catalysts and/or solvents using a microwave reactor, thereby achieving a rapid, energy‐efficient, and environmentally friendly approach. The obtained compounds were evaluated for their biological activities, including plant root promotion, bacterial growth stimulation, and cytotoxicity against human carcinoma cell lines. Naphthenic alcohols showed a strong stimulatory effect on adventitious root appearance in sunflower cuttings, whereas some derivatives enhanced the proliferation of Pseudomonas sp. isolates compared with NAs and exhibited good antiproliferative activity against HT‐29 cancer cells.