This review describes the recent advances in the microwave-assisted synthesis of 7-membered and larger heterocyclic compounds. Several types of reaction for the cyclization step are discussed: Ring Closing Metathesis (RCM), Heck and Sonogashira reactions, Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, dipolar cycloadditions, multi-component reactions (Ugi, Passerini), etc. Green syntheses and solvent-free procedures have been introduced whenever possible. The syntheses discussed herein have been selected to illustrate the huge potential of microwave in the synthesis of highly functionalized molecules with potential therapeutic applications, in high yields, enhanced reaction rates and increased chemoselectivity, compared to conventional methods. More than 100 references from the recent literature are listed in this review.
Keywords: bioactive molecules; cyclocondensations; dipolar cycloaddition; microwave irradiation; multicomponent reactions.