Scope of Nitrostyrenes in Chemistry and Biology and the Advancement of Their Reactions

ABSTRACT Nitrostyrenes are versatile intermediates in organic synthesis, enabling the creation of amidines, iminonitriles, and various heterocycles (O, S, and N). These heterocycles include coumarins, xanthates, pyrroles, and indoles, which are key in drugs like atorvastatin and sumatriptan. They also serve as precursors for amidines, iminonitriles, and polyfunctionalized benzopyrans. Nitrostyrenes act as dienophiles in Diels–Alder reactions, forming cyclic frameworks. The synthetic strategies to obtain nitrostyrenes are portrayed in detail. The descriptions regarding the reactivity of nitrostyrene's three reaction sites (C1, C2, and NO 2 ) remain unexplored, which are categorized in this review. Additionally, 4‐dimethylamino‐β‐nitrostyrene functions as a fluorescent solvatochromic probe to measure the dielectric constant in serum albumin. Physical chemists use nitrostyrene in photochemical, isomerization, and polymerization studies. Clinically active nitrostyrenes exhibit diverse biological functions, including antileishmanial, cardiovascular effects, and snake venom inhibition. Their applications span pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and biological fields, including anticancer and cardiovascular effects. This makes nitrostyrenes valuable to both academic and industrial chemists and biologists.