Assembly of nitrogen-containing heterocycles initiated by the aza-Michael reaction

The aza-Michael reaction is considered as the most popular method for the carbon–nitrogen bond formation and the shortest way to β-aminocarbonyl compounds, including β-amino acids and their derivatives. In many cases, conjugate addition of nitrogen-centered nucleophiles to the activated multiple bond triggers a series of cascade transformations being completed by the formation of heterocycles and analogs of natural compounds. The review summarizes the most important advances in the aza-Michael reaction-initiated synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles from unsaturated ketones and enoates.