The catalytic hydroamination of alkynes

Catalytic additions of ammonia or primary and secondary amines to non-activated alkenes and alkynes are called hydroaminations. These reactions of fundamental simplicity represent the most atom efficient processes for the formation of amines, enamines and imines, which are important bulk and fine chemicals or building blocks in organic synthesis. Consequently, the development of corresponding hydroamination reactions has received much attention and great progress has been achieved in the case of catalytic hydroaminations of alkynes over the past four years. To illustrate this progress, this tutorial review will mostly focus on recent developments in the field of intermolecular hydroamination of alkynes that appeared in the literature between the end of 2002 and October 31, 2006.