Issue 8, 2009

Organocatalysis—after the gold rush

Abstract

The use of secondary amines as asymmetric catalysts in transformations of carbonyl compounds has seen tremendous development in recent years. Going from sporadic reports of selected reactions, aminocatalysis can now be considered as one of the methods of choice for many asymmetric functionalizations of carbonyl compounds—primarily of aldehydes and ketones. These functionalizations have been published at a breathtaking pace over the last few years—during the “golden age” and “gold rush” of organocatalysis. This tutorial review will firstly sketch the basic developments in organocatalysis, focussing especially on the use of secondary amines as catalysts for the functionalization of aldehydes and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, with emphasis on the mechanisms of the transformations and, secondly, outline recent trends within central areas of this research topic. Lastly, we will present our guesses as to where new developments might take organocatalysis in the years to come.

Graphical abstract: Organocatalysis—after the gold rush

Article information

Article type
Tutorial Review
Submitted
23 Feb 2009
First published
21 May 2009

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2009,38, 2178-2189

Organocatalysis—after the gold rush

S. Bertelsen and K. A. Jørgensen, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2009, 38, 2178 DOI: 10.1039/B903816G

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