This Account focuses mainly on our recent endeavors in the areaof multicomponent reactions (MCRs) involving zwitterionic speciesgenerated by the addition of isocyanides and nucleophilic carbenessuch as dimethoxycarbene and N-heterocyclic carbenes to activatedalkynes. The strategy employed encompasses the interception of1:1 zwitterionic species, generated in situ with a wide range ofelectrophiles. The new MCRs developed offer an efficient andconvenient entry into several heterocycles of biological andsynthetic importance.
