The amount of research activity concerning alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones and alpha-alkylidene-gamma-butyrolactones has increased dramatically in recent years. This Review summarizes the structural types, biological activities, and biosynthesis of these compounds, concentrating on publications from the past 10 years. Traditional approaches to alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones and alpha-alkylidene-gamma-butyrolactones are then reviewed together with novel approaches, including those from our own research group, reported more recently.

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A survey of 1509 N-H-..O:C hydrogen bonds, observed by X-ray or neutron diffraction in 889 organic crystal structures, gave the following results.

"One-pot" processes in which alcohol oxidations are combined with further elaboration of the carbonyl intermediate are reviewed. Sequential processes are briefly discussed, but most attention is centered on tandem processes; that is, oxidations carried out in the presence of a nucleophilic trapping agent, rather than those in which the trapping agent is added after the oxidation is complete. As part of this Account, a comprehensive review of the discovery of tandem oxidation processes (TOP) will be given together with applications in alkene-forming reactions, cyclopropanations, and imine, oxime, amine, and heterocycle formation.

The structures and biological activities of naturally occurring 3‐alkenyl‐oxindoles are reviewed. Important man‐made3‐alkenyl‐oxindoles are covered, particularly those with pharmaceutical applications such as sunitinib (SU11248), the orally active receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor marketed by Pfizer as Sutent®. Traditional synthetic approaches to 3‐alkenyl‐oxindoles are summarised and then recently developed tandem/telescoped synthetic routes are described.

Manganese dioxide is employed as an in situ oxidant for the one-pot conversion of alcohols into imines. In combination with polymer-supported cyanoborohydride (PSCBH), a one-pot oxidation-imine formation-reduction sequence is reported. This procedure enables alcohols to be converted directly into both secondary and tertiary amines.

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This review describes transition-metal-catalysed and -mediated processes for the preparation of oxindoles from anilides through C(3)-C(3a) bond formation. Traditional methods,