NHC-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of natural products and pharmaceutical drugs

Abstract

Asymmetric processes catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have become extremely important as strategic tools for the efficient synthesis of bioactive molecular scaffolds. Over the past few years, these catalysts have been widely employed for the total synthesis of pharmaceutical drugs and structurally distinct natural products. This review provides an integrated survey of the asymmetric formal and total synthesis of biologically active natural products and medicinally important compounds using triazolium, imidazolium, and thiazolium-based NHC catalysts from 2016 onwards. This review covers the asymmetric synthesis of different classes of natural products, such as alkaloids, terpenoids, lignans, polyketides, pentadecaketides, and flavonoids, along with pharmaceutical drugs, such as NSAIDs, antidepressants, antibacterial and analgesic agents, by harnessing NHC catalysis.