Product Divergence in Coinage-Metal-Catalyzed Reactions of π-Rich Compounds

This short review aims to summarize how the product outcome of reactions of a common starting material can sometimes be controlled by the judicious choice of copper, silver or gold as the catalyst. It highlights the different reactivities observed in the functional group transformations of π-rich substrates mediated by the three group 11 metal salts. 1 Introduction 2 Reactions of Propargyl Amines, Esters and Their Derivatives 3 Reactions of Phenylacetylene Derivatives 4 Reactions of π-Rich Alcohols and Ethers 5 Indolyl Cyclopropene and Alkynone Rearrangements 6 Reactions Involving Metal-Carbene and Metal-Carbenoid Intermediates 7 Conclusion.