Alkyl Enol Ethers: Development in Intermolecular Organic Transformation.

Abstract

Alkyl enol ethers (AEE) are versatile synthetic intermediates with unique reactivity pattern. This review article represents the synthesis of AEE as well as its reactivity and how enol ether undergoes intermolecular reactions for various bond formation leading to the construction of several useful organic molecules. The synthetic applications of AEE towards intermolecular bond-forming reactions include metal-catalyzed, cycloaddition and heterocycles formation as well as in the field of natural products synthesis. The achievement of these impressive transformations prove the countless synthetic potential of AEE. The main objective of this review is to bring attentiveness among synthetic chemists is to show how AEE extensively can be used to react with both electrophiles as well as nucleophiles thereby behaving as an ambiphilic reactant. We trust that the unique reactivity pattern of AEE and the fundamental mechanistic idea can attract chemists in AEE chemistry. Exclusively, intermolecular reactions of AEE with other functionalized moieties have not been reviewed to the best of our knowledge.