Recent Developments in the Synthetic Uses of Silyl-protected Enoldiazoacetates for Heterocyclic Syntheses

Abstract

Diazo compounds have been used as precursors to a wide variety of heterocyclic compounds that represent the core structural subunits in many biologically active compounds. Various methodologies have been established for their synthesis via metal-catalyzed carbene transformations. Although the advantages of vinyldiazoacetates have been known for many years, realization of the synthetic use of enoldiazoacetates has been more recent. This review covers advances in the utility of silyl-protected enoldiazoacetates in heterocycle syntheses that include X–H insertion reactions, ylide rearrangements, formal [3+3]- and [4+3]-cycloaddition reactions, and other traditional and unusual metal carbene transformations.