Recent Advances in Nanocatalyzed One-Pot Sustainable Synthesis of Bioactive N, N-Heterocycles with Anticancer Activities: An Outlook of Medicinal Chemistry

heterocycles represent a predominant and unique class of organic chemistry. They have received a lot of attention due to their important chemical, biomedical, and industrial uses. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved about 75% of drugs containing N-based heterocycles, which are currently available in the market. N-Heterocyclic compounds exist as the backbone of numerous natural products and act as crucial intermediates for the construction of pharmaceuticals, veterinary items, and agrochemicals frequently. Among N-based heterocyclic compounds, bioactive N,N-heterocycles constitute a broad spectrum of applications in modern drug discovery and development processes. Cefozopran (antibiotic), omeprazole (antiulcer), enviradine (antiviral), liarozole (anticancer), etc., are important drugs containing N,N-heterocycles. The synthesis of N,N-heterocyclic compounds under sustainable conditions is one of the most active fields because of their significant physiological and biological properties as well as synthetic utility. Current research is demanding the development of greener, cheaper, and milder protocols for the synthesis of N,N-heterocyclic compounds to save mother nature by avoiding toxic metal catalysts, extensive application of energy, and the excessive use of hazardous materials. Nanocatalysts play a profound role in sustainable synthesis because of their larger surface area, tiny size, and minimum energy; they are eco-friendly and safe, and they provide higher yields with selectivity in comparison to conventional catalysts. It is increasingly demanding research to design and synthesize novel bioactive compounds that may help to combat cancer since the major causes of death worldwide are due to cancer. Hence, the important uses of nanocatalysts for the one-pot synthesis of biologically potent N,N-heterocycles with anticancer activities have been presented in this review.