Multi-component syntheses of heterocycles by transition-metal catalysis

• Published in: Chemical Society reviews Vol. 36; no. 7; p. 1095
• Main Authors: D'Souza, Daniel M, Müller, Thomas J J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.01.2007
• Subjects: Catalysis; Copper - chemistry; Heterocyclic Compounds - chemical synthesis; Heterocyclic Compounds - chemistry; Molecular Structure; Palladium - chemistry; Rhodium - chemistry; Ruthenium - chemistry; Transition Elements - chemistry
• ISSN: 0306-0012
• DOI: 10.1039/b608235c

For a long time multi-component syntheses of heterocycles have undeniably been a domain of classical carbonyl condensation chemistry. However, the advent of transition-metal catalysis not only has fertilized strategies in heterocyclic synthesis by uni- and bimolecular transformations but the past decade has also witnessed a rapid development of transition-metal catalysis in new multi-component reactions (MCR). Expectedly, palladium catalyzed processes have received a dominant position, yet, other transition-metal complexes are catching up implying organometallic elementary steps that reach even further than cross-coupling and carbometallation. Besides domino MCRs that are purely based upon organometallic catalysis the sequential and consecutive combination with condensation, addition and cycloaddition steps opens a vast playground for the invention of new sequences in heterocyclic synthesis. This tutorial review outlines the underlying reaction based principles of transition-metal catalysis in multi-component syntheses of heterocycles, summarizes recent developments of palladium catalyzed MCR, and highlights the more recent contributions to MCR based heterocyclic synthesis by virtue of rhodium, ruthenium, and copper catalysis.