Recent Developments of Stetter Reaction: A Brief Review

In this short review definition, mechanism, and recent developments of the Stetter reaction, in the period last ten years from 2011 to 2021 are presented. This reaction comprises N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed umpolung of aldehydes followed by their capturing with activated carbon-carbon double bonds (Michael acceptors). This work includes also progresses in the inter-molecular and intra-molecular versions and enantioselective transformations. Underscoring the recent advances in the applications of Stetter reaction in the synthesis of various heterocyclic systems and total synthesis of natural products have been also introduced.