Abstract:
N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have emerged as a powerful class of organocatalysts that mediate a variety of organic transformations.
The Benzoin reaction constitutes one of the earliest known carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions catalysed by NHCs.
The rapid growth of NHC catalysis in general has resulted in the development of a variety of benzoin and benzoin-type reactions.
An overview of such NHC-catalysed benzoin reactions is presented
