Recent Applications of Zirconium Compounds as Catalysts or Reagents in Organic Synthesis

In this brief review, we provide an updated summary of the significant advances in organic synthesis using zirconium compounds such as zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium oxide chloride, zirconium sulfate, zirconium hydrogen sulfate, zirconium hydrogen phosphate, zirconyltriflate, zirconium tetrakis(dodecylsulfate), zirconyldodecysulfate, and zirconium complexes, mainly from papers published in the last three years (2008-2010). Application of these compounds allows a reaction to be carried out in a facile and mild manner and affords the corresponding products in high yields with high regio-, chemo- and stereo-selectivity.