β-Keto Amides: A Jack-of-All-Trades Building Block in Organic Chemistry

beta-Keto amides are a versatile class of compounds that find wide applications in organic chemistry owing to the juxtaposition of multiple reaction sites within their molecular structures. Due to the importance of beta-keto amides in modern organic chemistry, numerous novel preparation methods, synthetic applications and unprecedented reactivities have been recorded over the past decade. Taking advantage of transition-metal-catalysis and organocatalysis, beta-keto amides have emerged into a jack-of-all-trades building block for many stereoselective or tandemized multicomponent reactions. But so far, no reviews have been documented on these recent achievements with beta-keto amides. Our Review aims to provide a thorough summary regarding: (a) the synthesis of beta-keto amides, (b) the reactivities of beta-keto amides, (c) the synthetic applications of beta-keto amides in various important heterocyclic compounds, and (d) the coordination of beta-keto amides with main group elements and transition metals and the relevant applications.

Automated summary

Beta-keto amides are versatile compounds with multiple reaction sites, making them useful in various organic chemistry applications. Innovative preparation methods and synthetic applications have been developed in the past decade. With the use of transition-metal catalysis and organocatalysis, beta-keto amides have become a versatile building block for stereoselective or tandemized multicomponent reactions.