The Michael addition is a versatile and widely studied organic reaction in which a nucleophile adds to an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound, typically an enone or enal. This reaction is named after the chemist Arthur Michael, who first described it in 1887. The Michael addition is commonly used in the synthesis of complex organic molecules, and has applications in pharmaceuticals, natural product synthesis, and materials science. It is a powerful tool for creating carbon-carbon bonds and constructing new stereocenters in molecules. The reaction can be catalyzed by a variety of different catalysts, including organocatalysts, transition metals, and enzymes. The Michael addition has been extensively studied and there are many variations and modifications of the reaction that have been developed over the years.