Current Organic Synthesis - Volume 6, Issue 3, 2009

Transition metal-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions between bicyclic alkenes and alkynes provides an efficient method for the construction of cyclobutene rings. Various transition metal complexes, including those of cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, and rhenium, have been used to catalyze [2+2] cycloadditions between bicyclic alkenes and alkynes. The purpose of this review is to summarize and discuss the various Read More

Due to their relevance in biological processes, molybdenum-catalyzed oxygen-transfer reactions have attracted considerable interest. In this context, some dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes, with the cis-[MoO2]2+ core, that mimic oxotransferases, have been found to be efficient catalysts for several oxidation and reduction reactions in organic synthesis. More recently, the utility of these molybdenum( VI) complexes has be Read More

Palladium(0)-catalyzed allylation of soft nucleophiles is a powerful synthetic methodology for the construction of carboncarbon or carbon-heteroatom bonds. The possibility of controlling the regioselectivity is one of the most interesting aspects of this chemistry. In this review, the different factors that can affect the regiochemistry of the nucleophilic attack will be discussed.

Three-membered heterocyclic rings offer a powerful combination of reactivity, stability, availability, and atom economy. In fact, the asymmetric ring opening of allylic epoxides with nucleophiles of different kinds, as will be discussed in this Review, offers the possibility of generating valuable chiral non-racemic building blocks in a very simple manner and in a stereodefined fashion.

Because the renewed interest of β-lactams in organic and medicinal chemistry, research in this field continues in producing new appealing progresses. This review tries to call the attention on synthetic aspects related to the generation of the four-membered heterocyclic ring, published in the last few years, with special accent in stereoselective synthetic approaches. The compendium will cover methods for achieving dia Read More