Mesitylcopper – A Powerful Tool in Synthetic Chemistry

Since its first report in 1981, mesitylcopper has become an extremely popular and useful reagent, with many new applications emerging during the past decade. This review summarizes its structural and spectroscopic properties and gives a brief overview of the multitude of fascinating compounds and reactions that have been discovered by using mesitylcopper. Specifically, the role of mesitylcopper in synthesizing oligonuclear homo- and heteroleptic copper(I) frameworks, including biorelevant copper(I) complexes, and the application of mesitylcopper in stoichiometric and catalytic C–C and C–heteroatom bond-forming reactions and as a precursor for nanoparticles and intermetallic phases are covered.