Themed collection Asymmetric catalysis

Asymmetric one-pot reactions applying heterogeneous chemical catalysts and unifying the benefits of these catalytic materials with the advantages of one-pot methods, are surveyed.

This review article discusses developments in the chemo-enzymatic synthesis of alkaloids since 2013, showcasing how modern methods of organic synthesis and biocatalysis are combined to establish novel routes towards these important natural products.

This review summarizes the current state and applications of catalytic Henry reactions involving complex nitroalkanes coupling with various carbonyl compounds to generate chiral β-nitro alcohol scaffolds with four adjacent stereogenic centers.

This work shows applications of Asymmetric Sharpless Aminohydroxylation (ASAH) in the stereoselective synthesis of vicinal amino alcohols as important intermediates in the total synthesis of complex molecules and natural products with significant biological activities.

3-Substituted-3-aminooxindole motifs constitute the core structure of a number of natural products and drug candidates.

This review summarized recent development (contributions after 2009) in the area of direct catalytic asymmetric functionalization reactions of inert C–H bonds.

The recent emergence of biological activities of chiral 3-substituted-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles has inspired synthetic chemists to develop new methodologies for their synthesis.

Asymmetric ring opening of racemic epoxides to enantiopure β-amino alcohols via a cascade biocatalysis system.

Simple primary β-amino alcohols X act as an efficient organocatalysts in the asymmetric Michael addition of β-keto esters A with nitroalkenes B affording highly pure chiral Michael adducts C.

Although the Michael addition is a very well-known and widely applied reaction, cost-effective, metal-free, and readily prepared organic catalysts remain rare.

The switchable chemoselectivity of isothiourea-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 3] annulation of α,β-unsaturated aryl esters with 2-acylbenzazoles has been predicted successfully.

A simple two catalysts component system of β-amino alcohols (catalyst) and amino acids (co-catalyst) works as an efficient organocatalysts in hetero Diels–Alder reaction of isatins with enones to afford chiral spirooxindole-tetrahydropyranones.

Structurally diverse chiral amines and amino alcohols were synthesized using an engineered thermostable amine dehydrogenase, demonstrating its extensive synthesis potential.

Engineering an alcohol dehydrogenase with enhanced activity and stereoselectivity toward diaryl ketones: reduction of steric hindrance and change of the stereocontrol element.

Based on substrate-coupled cofactor regeneration system, a high 2-propanol tolerance SmADH2 together with TBCR system can synthesise structurally diverse chiral alcohols at a high substrate loading with only 1.25 equivalents of 2-propanol.

The enantioselective conjugate addition of 2-naphthols to ortho-hydroxyphenyl substituted para-quinone methides has been achieved with the aid of a chiral phosphoric acid.

A simple and rapid procedure was used to prepare chiral NU-1000 as a robust Zr-based MOF without complexity. The functionalization of NU-1000 was performed by utilizing chiral L-(+)-tartaric acid via solvent-assisted linker incorporation, resulting in [C-NU-1000]. A Mo-complex was immobilized onto chiral NU-1000 for enantioselective epoxidation.

The first example for direct synthesis of chiral terminal alkynyl isochromans.

Enzymes are supreme catalysts when it comes to high enantiopurities and their immobilization will pave the way for continuous operation.

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that favorable oxidative addition/reductive elimination process from arylrhodium complex determines the enantioselectivity.

The mechanism and origin of selectivities of NHC-catalyzed dearomatization reaction have been theoretically studied.

Optically active spirocyclopropyloxindole derivatives were efficiently synthesized from diazooxindoles and olefins in the presence of a Ru(II)-Pheox catalyst.

Enantioselective organocatalytic domino reactions of in situ generated ortho-quinone methides with malononitrile and β-functionalized ketones have been developed. This strategy could generate various chiral chromenes in high yields and stereoselectivities.