A retrospective on the design and synthesis of novel molecules through a strategic consideration of metathesis and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling.

In recent years, ruthenium-catalyzed metathesis and palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions have proven to be the most efficient tools for carbon-carbon bond formation in synthetic organic chemistry. This is mainly because of the stability and remarkable functional-group tolerance of these catalysts. Therefore, the strategic consideration of these two powerful reactions can eventually minimize the synthetic steps for the construction of complex target molecules. In this perspective we summarize the efforts of many research groups who have used the combination of these two powerful reactions (either together in concert or separated by a few multistep sequences) for the synthesis of supramolecular ligands, polyaromatic compounds, and complex natural products.