Retro‐ Hetero ‐Michael Addition Strategies in Organic Synthesis

This review covers the applications of retro‐ hetero ‐Michael addition reactions in organic synthesis that have appeared in the literature in the last 15 years, with a focus on the synthesis and modification of carbo‐ and heterocyclic compounds, including natural products. The retro‐ aza ‐, retro‐ oxa ‐, and retro‐ thia ‐Michael addition reactions which are dealt with in the review have been widely exploited in synthetic organic chemistry to perform functional group manipulation, controlled isomerization, isomeric amplification, racemization for dynamic kinetic resolution, intramolecular rearrangements, and ring opening/ring reconstruction sequences. The syntheses of many complex natural products have included a retro‐ hetero ‐Michael addition step at some stage. Thus, what was once considered a problem has now become an established tool in the hands of organic chemists, who can leverage the retro‐ hetero ‐Michael addition‐based strategies for the preparation of intermediates in the synthesis of natural and biologically active carbo‐ and heterocyclic compounds.