This review constitutes a detailed but non-exhaustive examination of the directed ortho metalation (DoM) cross-coupling fusion in its many flavours.

Special attention is paid to the application of the concept of the linked reactions and the synthetic utility that it endows, particularly in the case of one-pot reactions that can greatly increase the ease and efficiency of the process.

Personal experience of particular issues that can arise from these reactions and examples of their solutions are given, as well as illustrations of the rapid access to complex molecules that the technique encourages.