Recent Advances in the Catalytic Synthesis of α ‐Ketoamides

Abstract α ‐Ketoamides are privileged chemical entities featuring a carbonyl group bonded to an amide. Bearing two pronucleophilic and two proelectrophilic sites, this structural scaffold exhibits distinct chemical properties and unparalleled biological activity. Owing to its wide application in medicinal, agricultural, and synthetic chemistry, methods for assembling this distinct moiety are ever‐growing in demand. With the increasing focus on green synthesis, traditional routes to α ‐ketoamides have faded in recent years giving rise to the development of photocatalytic, electrosynthetic, and microwave‐assisted catalytic protocols. We hereby provide a comprehensive and critical summary of all the catalytic advancements witnessed in this field from 2016 to the present.