Inducing an intramolecular reaction is a powerful means of accelerating
reactions. Though this mechanism of catalysis is common in enzymes,
it is underutilized in synthetic catalysts. This article outlines
our group’s recent efforts to use reversible covalent bonding
to induce an intramolecular reaction, allowing for rate acceleration
as well as control of the selectivity in the desymmetrization of
1,2-diols.
asymmetric catalysis - desymmetrization - organocatalysis - diols - enantioselectivity
