Asymmetric Synthesis

This article is concerned with the uses of asymmetric synthesis in the preparation of chiral organic molecules. Only asymmetric syntheses using chemical reagents are discussed. The material is classified according to the functional group transformed: (a) enamines and imines; (b) olefins without hetero substituents; (c) carbonyl moieties; and a fourth section deals with intramolecular transfer of asymmetry. This organization is intended to make the article useful in the design of synthetic sequences in which chiral organic molecules are produced by asymmetric synthesis. 1. Introduction 2. Imines and Enamines 2.1. Imines 2.2. Enamines 3. Olefins 3.1. Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrogenation, Hydroformylation, and Esterification Reactions 3.2. Carbenoid Addition Reactions 3.3. Oligomerization Reactions 3.4. Epoxidation and Related Reactions 4. Carbonyl Compounds 4.1. Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrogenation and Hydrosilylation Reactions 4.2. Reductions by Chirally Modified Hydride Reagents 5. Intramolecular Transfer of Asymmetry