The steering pathway: Ketene-Claisen rearrangement (KCR)-1978–2016

From what began as a casual discovery of the ketene-Claisen rearrangement (the Malherbe-Belluš rearrangement) over 3 decades ago has flourished a reaction of substantial significance. The noticeable qualities of the ketene-Claisen rearrangement is accomplished in terms of experimental simplicity, forming new CC bonds, high levels of chemo- and stereocontrol, ring enlargements and constructing new stereocenters. This survey of the ketene-Claisen rearrangement with some applications in organic synthesis will not only recapitulate the prospective of this reaction so far but also illustrate the achievable future significant prospective.