Recent Developments in Coinage Metal Catalyzed Transformations of Stabilized Vinyldiazo Compounds: Beyond Carbenic Pathways

Transition metal‐catalyzed transformations of vinyldiazo compounds have become a versatile tool in organic synthesis. Although several transition metals have been investigated for this purpose, this field has been mainly dominated by dirhodium catalysts. Remarkable levels of chemo‐, regio‐, diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity have been reached in some of these rhodium‐catalyzed transformations. In the last few years coinage metals have also emerged as useful catalysts in transformations involving vinyldiazo compounds. In some cases, highly efficient catalyst‐dependent protocols arising from divergent mechanistic pathways have been reported. In this Personal Account, we aim to showcase recent advances in metal coinage catalyzed transformations of vinyldiazoacetates, an exciting field of research to which our group has actively contributed in the last few years.