Chemistry of 3-hydroxy-2-aryl acrylate: syntheses, mechanisms, and applications

The discovery of the 3-hydroxy-2-aryl acrylate was a significant breakthrough in the field of organic and medicinal chemistry. Due to the presence of both electrophilic and nucleophilic centers, this scaffold acts as a fascinating building block of many bioactive compounds. More importantly, 3-hydroxy-2-aryl acrylate is a vital precursor in the synthesis of natural products and in the development of essential drugs. In this first review, we outline different approaches for preparing 3-hydroxy-2-aryl acrylate with mechanisms and its application in a variety of chemical fields.