2-Pyrone - A Privileged Heterocycle and Widespread Motif in Nature

The 2-pyrone moiety can be found in a large number of natural products with a wide range of biological activities, including antibiotic, antifungal, cytotoxic, neurotoxic, phytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and cardiotonic effects. With its heterocyclic structure encompassing the chemical nature of conjugated dienes, lactones, Michael acceptors and arenes, it can undergo a great variety of transformations such as cycloadditions, ring-opening reactions, cross-couplings and lactamizations. Thus, 2-pyrones represent valuable synthetic precursors and worthwhile targets in organic, polymer, and medical chemistry. Owing to its exquisite chemical and physical properties, the synthesis and further transformations of 2-pyrones have attracted considerable attention over the past decade, showcasing transition metal and metal free strategies and using readily available starting materials, notably those stemming from renewable resources.