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Cellulose sulfuric acid has proved its competence as a potential bio-compatible, non-toxic, and inexpensive heterogeneous solid acid catalyst in synthetic organic chemistry. Owing to its remarkable properties, such as non-hygroscopic nature, recyclability, superior catalytic activity and high stability, it has been actively explored as an efficient and biodegradable organocatalyst in diverse chemical transformations of synthetic relevance. This review attempts to summarize a significant advancement and catalytic applications of cellulose sulfuric acid for the synthesis of a plethora of biologically relevant organic molecules.

In this review, we examined the possibility that some halogenated organic derivatives were used in the primitive ocean at the beginning of life on Earth. Firstly, we described the existence of extraterrestrial halogenated molecules, then we studied their nonbiological syntheses on the present Earth, especially in volcanic environments. In order to demonstrate the diversity of today’s halogenated biomolecules, representative examples are given and the biosynthesis of some of them is summarized. Finally, we proposed two aspects of the chemistry of halogenated compounds that may have been useful en route to biomolecules, firstly the use of methyl chloride as the first methylation reagent, secondly the synthesis and use of α-chloro-carbonyl derivatives.