Petrochemicals currently represent the predominant global source of energy and consumer products, including the starting materials used in the platform chemical, plastic polymer, and pharmaceutical industries. However, in recent years, the world’s approaches have shifted towards green chemistry and bio-based chemical production in an effort to reduce CO₂ emissions and mitigate climate change. Over the past few decades, researchers have discovered that marine metabolites, primarily sourced from invertebrates, can be utilized to create sustainable and renewable chemicals. This review highlights the significance of advancing marine microorganism-based biotechnology and biochemistry in developing effective conversion systems to enhance the biological production of key platform chemicals, including those utilized as biomaterials and for energy. A background in marine metabolite biochemistry lays the groundwork for potential strategies to mitigate dependence on petroleum for consumer products. This is followed by a discussion of petroleum product replacement technologies, green chemistry alternatives, and CO₂ mitigation efforts for the production of sustainable and renewable key platform chemicals.

14-Aryl-14 H-dibenzo[ a,j]xanthenes and 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthenes were synthesised directly from benzyl alcohols by a tandem catalytic process using choline peroxydisulfate (ChPS). The synthesis proceeds through two steps: an oxidation of the benzyl alcohol to the corresponding benzaldehyde followed by condensation with 2-naphthol (or dimedone) to form the products. Choline bisulfate, generated in situ from ChPS, catalyses the product formation.