Morita-Baylis-Hillman and Rauhut-Currier Reactions of Conjugated Nitroalkenes

α-Functionalization of conjugated nitroalkenes and nitrodienes using various electrophiles in the presence of amine catalysts such as imidazole and DMAP and the synthetic applications of the products are reviewed. The electrophiles include formaldehyde, activated non-enolizable carbonyl compounds, activated imines, azodicarboxylates as well as activated alkenes such as nitroalkenes, MVK and acrylate. Reports on synthetic applications of the products, though only appearing in the last three years, highlight the potential of these multi-functional scaffolds to take part in diverse transformations such as Michael addition, cycloaddition and many cascade reactions leading to complex molecules including natural products.