This volume of Topics in Heterocyclic Chemistry is focused on new and innovative
metal-catalyzed reactions that effect formation of a carbon–heteroatom bond. The
volume is composed of seven chapters, which have been written by a talented group
of young scientists who have all made significant contributions to this field.
The first five chapters of this volume are centered on the construction of
saturated heterocycles from alkenes bearing appended nitrogen or oxygen
nucleophiles. The first chapter, entitled “Synthesis of Saturated Heterocycles via
Metal-Catalyzed Alkene Carboamination or Carboalkoxylation Reactions,” which I
have written, is focused on reactions of these substrates with various carbon
electrophiles. These transformations generate both a carbon–carbon bond and a
carbon–heteroatom bond and provide stereocontrolled access to a broad range of
heterocycles.
In the second chapter, entitled “Synthesis of Saturated Heterocycles via MetalCatalyzed
Alkene Diamination, Aminoalkoxylation, or Dialkoxylation Reactions,”
Chemler and Copeland outline reactions that generate two carbon–heteroatom
bonds.