Synthesis 2011(17): 2685-2708  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1260143
REVIEW
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

More Than Just Sweet - Sugar-Derived Stereodifferentiating Agents for Asymmetric Synthesis

Tobias Lehnert, Gülsüm Özüduru, Holger Grugel, Fabian Albrecht, Susanne M. Telligmann, Mike M. K. Boysen*
Institute of Organic Chemistry, Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz University of Hannover, Schneiderberg 1B, 30167 Hannover, Germany
Fax: +49(511)7623011; e-Mail: mike.boysen@oci.uni-hannover.de;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 30 May 2011
Publication Date:
29 July 2011 (online)

Abstract

Stereodifferentiating agents such as chiral auxiliaries, reagents and additives as well as ligands for metal catalysis and organocatalysts are essential in asymmetric synthesis. While it is commonly agreed that amino acids, terpenes and alkaloids from the chiral pool make highly useful starting materials for many important stereodifferentiating agents, carbohydrates, which are the most abundant chiral natural products, are still regularly regarded as ill-suited for this purpose. Many chemists are surprisingly ignorant of the wealth of carbohydrate-derived agents available for stereoselective synthesis. This review highlights the most successful carbo­hydrate-derived auxiliaries, reagents, complex ligands and organocatalysts, and provides an overview of their usefulness in asymmetric transformations.

1 Introduction

2 Stoichiometric Agents

2.1 Chiral Auxiliaries

2.2 Chiral Reagents and Additives

3 Catalytic Agents

3.1 Chiral Complex Ligands

3.2 Chiral Organocatalysts

4 Conclusion