Heterocycles from Cycloaddition Reactions

The synthesis of heterocyclic compounds via catalytic cycloaddition reactions of metallocarbenes is robust, atom-economic, and often allows access to chiral heterocycles with high levels of stereocontrol. This methodology has demonstrated advantages over other metal- and organo-catalytic approaches towards heterocycles (e.g., lower catalyst loading, use of inexpensive metal catalysts, mild reaction conditions, excellent stereoselectivities, etc.). This chapter is comprehensive, and covers all available literature reports on cycloaddition using metallocarbenes to produce different ring size heterocycles: from small strained tri-membered to medium-size eight-membered rings.