Multi-component reaction based on isocyanides

Multi-component reactions (MCRs) have attracted lots of interest and been the focus of many synthetic chemists due to their intrinsic economic and ecological value. Since both electrophilic reaction and nucleophilic reaction are performed via the carbon atom, isocyanide plays a significant role in MCRs. In this paper, progresses of MCRs involved isocyanide in recent years, especially about the mechanism, research progress and application of Ugi reactions and Passerini reactions were discussed.