Organic processes initiated by non-classical energy sources

Non-classical energy sources such as microwave energy, ultrasound and mechanoenergy and their combination with UV–VIS radiation are new tools in synthetic chemistry and chemical processing. Here we describe the application of microwave treatment for selected organic reactions such as (i) enzymatic transesterification of optically active alcohols, (ii) mercury-sensitized gas-phase photolysis of hydrocarbons in the microwave field, (iii) environmentally benign oxidations of olefins and (iv) the application of mechanoenergy separately and in combination with microwave irradiation for special oxidation reactions.