Recent advances in transition-metal-catalyzed directed C-H alkenylation with maleimides

Transition-metal-catalyzed directed C-H alkenylation with maleimides has attracted much attention in recent years, as maleimide core moieties are present in various natural products and pharmaceuticals. In addition, these derivatives can be readily modified into biologically important compounds including succinimides, pyrrolidines and gamma-lactams. The efficient chelation-assisted inert C-H bond activation strategy provides straightforward access to a wide array of structurally diverse molecules containing maleimide units. This review describes the major progress and mechanistic investigations on Heck-type reaction/cyclization of maleimides with organic molecules until early 2022.

Automated summary

Transition-metal-catalyzed directed C-H alkenylation with maleimides has gained significant attention in recent years due to the presence of maleimide core moieties in various natural products and pharmaceuticals. Moreover, these derivatives can be easily transformed into biologically important compounds including succinimides, pyrrolidines, and gamma-lactams. This review provides an overview of the major progress and mechanistic investigations on Heck-type reaction/cyclization of maleimides with organic molecules until early 2022.