This Account focuses mainly on our recent endeavors in the area of multicomponent reactions (MCRs) involving zwitterionic species generated by the addition of isocyanides and nucleophilic carbenes such as dimethoxycarbene and N-heterocyclic carbenes to activated alkynes. The strategy employed encompasses the interception of 1:1 zwitterionic species, generated in situ with a wide range of electrophiles. The new MCRs developed offer an efficient and convenient entry into several heterocycles of biological and synthetic importance.

An Account of carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bond-forming reactions mediated by zwitterions generated by the addition of organic nucleophiles to activated unsaturated systems highlighting their synthetic potential is presented.