From Conventional Reaction Conditions to Microwave-Assisted Catalytic Transformations of Various Substrates. State of the Art in 2012 (Part B: Catalysis)

In this review we provide selected recent examples of applications of microwave irradiation to carry out various transformations accelerated by a variety of catalysts. In particular, here we present transition-metal-catalyzed transformations (with the application of palladium, copper, rhodium and other metal-containing compounds), organocatalysis, heterogeneous catalysis, phase-transfer catalysis, the application of solid-supported catalysts, the use of inorganic catalysts (bases, acids and salts) and ionic liquids, etc. Combination of microwaves and catalysts represents an efficient and general pathway applicable in the syntheses and transformations of different organic targets, especially heterocyclic and some other compounds. The emphasis is dedicated to those compounds containing a 2H-pyran-2-one moiety in their structure and their subsequent transformations into (hetero)aromatic derivatives.