Recent progress and prospects in the organocatalytic Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction

The organocatalytic asymmetric Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction produces a significant carbon–carbon bond formation that involves the addition of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to activated alkenes to give α-methylene-β-hydroxycarbonyl compounds. Commercially available starting materials, excellent atom economy, mild reaction conditions, and flexible products are the major highlights of this method. In this review, we discuss the recent developments in the organocatalytic MBH reaction, covering literature from 2018 to 2023.