Conversion of carbohydrates under microwave heating

The non-energetic valorisation of renewable resources using efficient and eco-friendly methodologies is the central axis of the "green chemistry" concept. In particular, the chemical and chemo-enzymatical transformations of carbohydrates arising from the hydrolysis of non-edible vegetal feedstock (i.e., lignocellulosic biomass) are a widely explored thematic for the production of new high-added value materials, synthons, and platform chemicals.
Since the seminal works of Gedye and Giguere in 1986, the use of microwaves as a non-conventional heating source has gained large attention in organic chemistry. Due to commonly observed acceleration in reactions rates and improved selectvities and yields, microwave heating has progressively emerged as a green chemistry technology. Minimizing both energy consumption (via the reduction of temperature and reaction times) and wastes (by improvement of selectivity), microwaves has enjoyed significant adoption by the research community.
This chapter describes the use of microwave processes to mediate key reactions in the field of carbohydrates chemistry. Some examples of typical carbohydrates reactions (glycosylations, hydroxyl groups’ protection, etc.) under microwave conditions are displayed and highlight the benefits of this microwave approach in terms of yields, atom efficiency, environmental factor, and carbon efficiency.