This article presents a review of the methods of synthesis of α-methylene lactones, esters, lactams, ketones, and aldehydes.
The methods are classified into the following categories.
1. Routes
via compounds bearing a leaving group at the β-carbon.
1-1. Oxygen functional groups.
1-2. Nitrogen functional groups.
1-3. Sulfur, Selenium functional groups and Halogens.
2. Routes
via compounds bearing a leaving group at the α-carbon.
3. Routes
via compounds bearing leaving groups at α- and β-carbons.
4. Synthesis utilizing methylene compounds such as
4-1. Acrylic acid derivatives.
4-2. Allyl alcohol derivatives or Acrolein derivatives.
5. Routes
via cyclopropane derivatives.
6. Rearrangement.
7. CO insertion reaction.
8. Miscellaneous.
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