Calcium carbide: Highly potent solid reagent for the construction of heterocycles

An analysis of the literature over the past 10 years shows that there is a trend towards simplification of the synthetic procedures, usage of readily available and unexpensive materials, and concern for the safety of the experimental chemist. The use of calcium carbide as a solid acetylene analogue fits this trend perfectly. By replacing gaseous acetylene with calcium carbide, a complex of problems associated with working with gases can be solved at once. Due to this, the chemistry of calcium carbide is rapidly developing, opening up new possibilities of acetylene chemistry. This review highlights recent advances in carbide chemistry demonstrating its advantages in the construction of heterocycles.