Cyclization Strategies in Carbonyl–Olefin Metathesis: An Up-to-Date Review

The metathesis reaction between carbonyl compounds and olefins has emerged as a potent strategy for facilitating swift functional group interconversion and the construction of intricate organic structures through the creation of novel carbon-carbon double bonds. To date, significant progress has been made in carbonyl-olefin metathesis reactions, where oxetane, pyrazolidine, 1,3-diol, and metal alkylidene have been proved to be key intermediates. Recently, several reviews have been disclosed, focusing on distinct catalytic approaches for achieving carbonyl-olefin metathesis. However, the summarization of cyclization strategies for constructing aromatic heterocyclic frameworks through carbonyl-olefin metathesis reactions has rarely been reported. Consequently, we present an up-to-date review of the cyclization strategies in carbonyl-olefin metathesis, categorizing them into three main groups: the formation of monocyclic compounds, bicyclic compounds, and polycyclic compounds. This review delves into the underlying mechanism, scope, and applications, offering a comprehensive perspective on the current strength and the limitation of this field.