The de novo synthesis of small organic heterocyclic molecules has benefited from recent protocols for copper-facilitated additions of heteroatoms to alkenes, alkynes and arenes. This tutorial review summarizes a number of these recent contributions. Copper salts can facilitate bond formations due to their ability to serve as Lewis acids, oxidizing agents and transition metal catalysts. The current understanding of the mechanisms of these reactions is presented. This review should be of interest to chemists involved in the synthesis of heterocycles and those investigating transition metal facilitated reactions.