Multicomponent Reactions: A New Strategy for Enriching the Routes of Value-Added Conversions of Bio-platform Molecules

Synthesis of complex molecules via multicomponent reactions (MCRs) in a one-pot reaction manner has emerged as an important means to realize the value-added conversion of cheap and easily available renewable bio-based platform molecules. The diversity and multi-functionality of these biomass-derived molecules provide a fascinating platform for establishing MCRs, and in many cases, the developed MCRs would not be attained from less functionalized substrates. This review introduces some typical examples for the conversion of biomass-derived platform compounds to high value-added products through MCRs. It mainly summarizes the MCRs developed by using polyols, dicarboxylic acids, levulinic acid and furfural derivatives as one of the starting substrates. At the end of this review, a perspective of this direction is also given.