Direct addition of alkynes to imines and related C=N electrophiles: A convenient access to propargylamines

Propargylic amines are highly useful building blocks in organic synthesis, and the corresponding structural motif has been found in various natural products and compounds of pharmaceutical relevance. This article provides an overview of the most significant advances in the preparation of propargylic amines via the direct addition of alkynes to imines and related carbon - nitrogen electrophiles in the presence of metal catalysts or promoters.