Over the last years, bismuth(III) salts have emerged as useful reagents in
organic synthesis. Systems comprising of bismuth(III) salts are generally catalytic and
involve a relatively non-toxic metal. These features are of great interest in the area of
green and pharmaceutical chemistry. The construction and/or functionalization of
heterocyclic compounds is of major interest, since a large number of natural compounds
and known drugs are heterocycles. This Chapter will focus on the applications of
bismuth(III) reagents and catalysts in heterocyclic chemistry, as applied to the synthesis
of compounds of pharmaceutical interest. In addition to the inclusion of five- and sixmembered
heterocycles, five- and six-membered heterocycles fused to one benzene
ring, as well as other heterocyclic compounds, the application of bismuth(III) salts to
chemistry of carbohydrates, nucleosides and β-lactams will also be considered.
Keywords: Bismuth(III) salts, heterocycles, pharmaceutical interest, green
chemistry, bismuth trichloride, bismuth triflate, bismuth nitrate, furans, thiophenes,
pyrroles, pyridines, pyrimidines, indoles, benzopyrans, quinolines, isoquinolines,
carbohydrates, nucleosides, β-lactams.
