Metal‐Free Reductive Aldol Reactions

Abstract

Abstract The reductive aldol reaction (RAR) is an important carbon‐carbon bond‐forming reaction. Several methods have been developed with the RAR as the key step to access complex molecular frameworks. An overview of the literature pertaining to the metal‐free reductive aldol chemistry is presented. The RARs facilitated by boranes, phosphine oxides, and phosphines is deliberated in a comprehensive manner. The scope, limitations, mechanistic insights and applications of these methods are also discussed.