Metal-Catalysed A3 Coupling Methodologies: Classification and Visualisation

The multicomponent reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes, known as A3 coupling, yields propargylamines, a valuable organic scaffold, and has received significant interest and attention in the last years. In order to fully realise the potential of the metal-based catalytic protocols that facilitate this transformation, we summarise substrates, in situ and well-characterised synthetic methods that provide this scaffold and attempt a monumental classification considering several variables (Metal, Coordinating atom(s), Ligand type and name, in-situ or well-characterised, co-catalyst, catalyst and ligand Loading (mol%), solvent, volume, atmosphere, temperature, microwave, time, yield, selectivity (e.e. d.r.), substrate name, functionality, loading (amines, aldehydes, alkynes), and use of molecular sieves). This pioneering work creates a valuable database that contains 2376 entries and allows us to produce graphs and better visualise their impact on the reaction.