Lu's [3 + 2] cycloaddition of allenes with electrophiles: discovery, development and synthetic application

Abstract

Lu's [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction has experienced explosive development due to its versatile and powerful ability to access highly functionalized carbo- and heterocycles. After the first example reported by Prof. Xiyan Lu's group, many research groups expanded its substrate scope, and developed its asymmetric variants, and demonstrated its synthetic applications as well. This review briefly introduces the history of Lu's [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction and highlights the important developments and synthetic applications with respect to Lu's [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction.