Molecules 2011, 16, 2884-2913; doi:10.3390/molecules16042884 OPEN ACCESS molecules ISSN 1420-3049 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules Review Bismuth(III) Reagents in Steroid and Terpene Chemistry Jorge A. R. Salvador 1,*, Samuel M. Silvestre 2 and Rui M. A. Pinto 1 1 Laboratório de Química Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal 2 Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
[email protected]; Tel.: +351 239488479; Fax: +351 239827126. Received: 10 February 2011; in revised form: 14 March 2011 / Accepted: 29 March 2011 / Published: 4 April 2011 Abstract: Steroid and terpene chemistry still have a great impact on medicinal chemistry. Therefore, the development of new reactions or “greener” processes in this field is a contemporaneous issue. In this review, the use of bismuth(III) salts, as “ecofriendly” reagents/catalysts, on new chemical processes involving steroids and terpenes as substrates will be focused. Special attention will be given to some mechanistic considerations concerning selected reactions. Keywords: bismuth(III) salts; catalysis; steroids; terpenes; triterpenoids 1. Introduction Steroids [1] and terpenes [2] constitute a large and structurally diverse family of natural products and are considered important scaffolds for the synthesis of molecules of pharmaceutical interest. Different contributions ranging from natural product isolation and characterization to the synthesis of new compounds and their biological evaluation are reported every day. These investigations are justified by the well known biological properties of steroids and terpenes that make them useful molecules in pharmacy and medicine.