Recent synthetic methodologies for pyrrolidine derivatives through multicomponent reactions

Heterocyclic chemistry has appeared as a significant part of organic chemistry due to their distinct physiological characteristics. Many biologically active nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds are found as a main backbone in structures of the complex compounds. Pyrrolidine is a saturated five-membered heterocyclic moiety containing secondary amine in its ring structure. Pyrrolidine derivatives occur in many plants as natural alkaloids. Pyrrolidine derivatives exhibit diverse biological activities, including anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-fungal, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities. Over the past years many bioactive compounds bearing pyrrolidine moiety have been synthesized through cycloaddition reactions by using azomethine ylide and isatin as the primary reactants. Because of its multiple uses, many researchers are in efforts to produce pyrrolidine derivatives via different ways, which are helpful in therapeutics. The aim of this review is to critically discuss the synthesis of pyrrolidine and their derivatives via multicomponent approach by using different processes like ultrasound irradiation, microwave heating, catalyst-based reactions, catalyst-free, salts and azomethine ylide formation during the years 2018–2024.