Advances and Perspectives in Pinacol Rearrangement Reactions: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

The pinacol rearrangement is an intramolecular dehydration reaction of 1,2-diols to pinacolones under acid catalysis. Pinacolones are important intermediates in the organic chemical industry, finding applications in diverse areas such as agricultural pesticides, medicines, and dyes. This review article summarizes the progress made in the field of pinacol rearrangement reactions, encompassing various aspects including high-temperature liquid water and supercritical water, inorganic acids, Lewis acids, molecular sieves, solid-phase reactions, photochemistry, and electrochemistry. The review combines findings from multiple studies to provide a comprehensive overview of the advancements and methodologies employed in pinacol rearrangement reactions.