β‐Keto Amides: A Jack‐of‐All‐Trades Building Block in Organic Chemistry

Abstract β‐ Keto amides are a versatile class of compounds that find wide applications in organic chemistry owing to the juxtaposition of multiple reaction sites within their molecular structures. Due to the importance of β‐ keto amides in modern organic chemistry, numerous novel preparation methods, synthetic applications and unprecedented reactivities have been recorded over the past decade. Taking advantage of transition‐metal‐catalysis and organocatalysis, β ‐keto amides have emerged into a jack‐of‐all‐trades building block for many stereoselective or tandemized multicomponent reactions. But so far, no reviews have been documented on these recent achievements with β ‐keto amides. Our Review aims to provide a thorough summary regarding: (a) the synthesis of β ‐keto amides, (b) the reactivities of β ‐keto amides, (c) the synthetic applications of β ‐keto amides in various important heterocyclic compounds, and (d) the coordination of β ‐keto amides with main group elements and transition metals and the relevant applications.