Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Utility of 1,1-Dibromoolefins

1,1-Dibromoolefins represent an important motif for synthetic chemists. Each carbon–bromine bond represents a reactive handle that can be differentially functionalized to increase molecular complexity from simple starting materials. They can be used for the synthesis of a variety of heterocycles, densely functionalized olefins, and alkynes. Facile access to this functional group can be achieved from a corresponding carbonyl compound, an olefin, or an alkyne. This graphical review provides a broad overview of the synthesis and synthetic utility of this important functional group since 2011. It covers their reactivity with metal catalysts as well as in metal-free reactions.