Editorial [Hot Topic: Heterocyclic Chemistry (Guest Editor: Jan Bergman)]

The Nenitzescu reaction is a classical methodology to quickly obtain highly functionalized indole derivatives. The reaction is now brought up-to-date by Drs Patil, Patil and Miller from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA. Bicyclic polyhydroxylated alkaloids constitutes an interesting and biologically active class of molecules. Stereochemical challenges are multipresent. All these aspects are attended by Prof. Lopez and her co-workers from the University of Jaen, Spain. The imino-pinacol coupling offers an attractive access to 1,2-diamines, which in turn have important applications in medicinal chemistry and asymmetric catalysis. This field is now reviewed by Prof. Genisson and Dr Faugeroux from Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. The final contribution authored by Prof. R. Rossi and his co-workers from the University of Pisa, Italy, features recent denvelopment of arylheteroarenes and biheteroaryls.