Tris(acetylacetonato) Iron(III): Recent Developments and Synthetic Applications

Tris(acetylacetonato) iron(III) [Fe(acac) ₃ ] is an indispensable reagent in synthetic chemistry. Its applications range from hydrogen atom transfer to cross-coupling reactions and to use as a Lewis acid. Consequently, the exceptional utility of Fe(acac) ₃ has been demonstrated in several total syntheses. This short review summarizes the applications of Fe(acac) ₃ in methodology and catalysis and highlights its use for the synthesis of medicinally relevant structures and in natural product syntheses. 1 Introduction 2 Hydrogen Atom Transfer (HAT) 3 Oxidations and Radical Transformations 4 Synthesis and Use of Alkynes and Allenes 5 Cross-Couplings and Cycloisomerizations 6 Borylations 7 Miscellaneous Reactions 8 Conclusions.