Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry & Membrane Biophysics (L.O.B.O.), Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Sonia Martínez-Caballero
Departamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales y las Matemáticas, Facultad de Formación de Profesorado, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Ana G. Neo
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry & Membrane Biophysics (L.O.B.O.), Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Jesús Díaz
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry & Membrane Biophysics (L.O.B.O.), Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Carlos F. Marcos
Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry & Membrane Biophysics (L.O.B.O.), Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Since the first reports of the reaction of imines and cyclic anhydrides by Castagnoli and Cushman, this procedure has been applied to the synthesis of a variety of lactams, some of them with important synthetic or biological interest. The scope of the reaction has been extended to the use of various Schiff bases and anhydrides as well as to different types of precursors for these reagents. In recent years, important advances have been made in understanding the mechanism of the reaction, which has historically been quite controversial. This has helped to develop reaction conditions that lead to pure diastereomers and even homochiral products. In addition, these mechanistic studies have also led to the development of new multicomponent versions of the Castagnoli–Cushman reaction that allow products with more diverse and complex molecular structures to be easily obtained.
