The applications of β-keto amides for heterocycle synthesis

beta-Keto amides have multiple nucleophilic and electrophilic reaction sites within their molecular structures, which make them excellent building blocks for the construction of various heterocyclic compounds. In this Review, we summarized the applications of structurally diversified beta-keto amides for the synthesis of (1) Five-membered heterocycles including furans, thiophenes, pyrroles, indoles, pyrazoles, triazoles, and their derivatives; (2) six-membered nitrogen- and oxygen-containing heterocycles such as pyridones, dihydropyridines, pyridines, quinolones, quinolines, pyranones and the like; (3) various lactams and some aza-aliphatic rings. The focus is on the multicomponent reactions which take advantage of the unique versatile reactivities of beta-keto amides.