Micelle-Assisted Lewis and Brønsted Acid Catalysis: A Review Towards Greener and Efficient Synthesis of Polycyclic and Heteroaromatic Compounds

Considering the expanded interest in reducing organic solvents in synthesis, surfactants and surfactant-based catalysis have been used to carry out various organic transformations in water. In recent years, the integration of Lewis and Brønsted acid catalysis with micellar systems has gained considerable attention as a powerful approach to enhance reaction efficiency while minimizing the environmental impact of synthetic processes. In this article, we depict the most recent advances in the water-interceded synthesis of different organic systems by utilizing different surfactant-type catalysts, which are important structural motifs in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and functional materials. Further, these methods incorporate green reaction media, mild reaction conditions, and a great yield of product with high purity in a shorter interval of time. Understanding the scope and impact of this area, authors have made efforts to collect and compile the data that indicates many named reactions, such as Friedlander annulation, aldol condensation, the Biginelli reaction, the Mannich reaction, Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling, etc., now take place using surfactant-based catalysts.