Chemical Review and Letters, pp.536-546, 2025 (Scopus)
Direct vicinal hydroxy-functionalization of alkenes allows the atom- and stepeconomical and original construction of biologically and synthetically important βfunctionalized alcohols from inexpensive and abundant feedstock chemicals. In this context, synthesis of versatile β-hydroxy nitriles and β-nitro alcohols through the direct vicinal cyano- and nitro-hydroxylation of alkenes has recently attracted considerable attention from organic and bioorganic synthetic communities due to their straightforward manner as well as easily accessible starting materials. This review highlights up-to-date developments in this exciting research field with special emphasis on the mechanistic aspects of the reactions.The resulting βfunctionalized alcohols frequently exhibit potent biological activity and serve as key intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other bioactive molecules.