Recent advances in inert bonds activation with isocyanides

Abstract

Transition-metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization has attracted tremendous interest as a valuable tool for the construction of heterocycles. As a unique building block, isocyanides have been widely used in the synthesis of various nitrogen- containing heterocycles through multi-component Passerini and Ugi reactions. This review highlights the recent progress in inert bonds activation with isocyanides, including C-H bond or N-H bond insertion of isocyanides and radical oxidative annulation of isocyanides.