Benzo[b]thiophenes are aromatic heterocyclic compounds containing benzene and thiophene rings. This class of heterocycles is present in a large number of natural and non-natural compounds. Benzo[b]thiophene derivatives have a broad range of applications in medicinal chemistry such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-HIV and antiinflammatory activities. The use of benzo[b]thiophene derivatives in other fields has also been reported. Various benzo[b]thiophenes compounds have been employed as organic photoelectric materials, while several benzo[b]thiophenes have been used as organic semiconductors. Benzo[b]thiophenes have also been used as building blocks or intermediates for the synthesis of pharmaceutically important molecules.

Due to such a wide range of applicability, the synthesis of benzo[b]thiophene derivatives has attracted intensive research. Numerous mild and efficient approaches for the synthesis of benzo[b]thiophenes have been developed over the years. Different catalysts and substrates have been applied for benzo[b]thiophene synthesis. This review will focus on the studies in the construction of benzo[b]thiophene skeleton, which date back from 2012.

苯并[b]噻吩是含有苯和噻吩环的芳族杂环化合物。这类杂环存在于大量天然和非天然化合物中。苯并[b]噻吩衍生物在药物化学中具有广泛的应用，例如抗微生物，抗癌，抗氧化剂，抗HIV和抗炎活性。也已报道了苯并[b]噻吩衍生物在其他领域的使用。各种苯并[b]噻吩化合物已被用作有机光电材料，而几种苯并[b]噻吩已被用作有机半导体。苯并[b]噻吩也已用作合成重要药物分子的基础材料或中间体。

由于如此广泛的适用性，苯并[b]噻吩衍生物的合成引起了广泛的研究。这些年来，已经开发出许多温和而有效的合成苯并[b]噻吩的方法。不同的催化剂和底物已被用于苯并[b]噻吩的合成。这篇综述将侧重于可追溯至2012年的苯并[b]噻吩骨架的构建研究。