Advances in Asymmetric Epoxidation of α,β -Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds:The Organocatalytic Approach

Title: Advances in Asymmetric Epoxidation of α,β -Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds:The Organocatalytic Approach

Volume: 5 Issue: 2

Author(s): Alessandra Lattanzi

Affiliation:

Keywords: Asymmetric epoxidation, organocatalysis, α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, enantioenriched epoxides

Abstract: The area of asymmetric epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is extensively studied owing to the synthetic importance of enantiomerically enriched epoxides as building blocks and products of pharmaceutical interest. In this review a comprehensive overview of the advances on the enantioselective organocatalytic methodologies for the epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is presented. Dealing with the use of small organic molecules as catalysts, enantioselective organocatalysis is a flourishing new field of asymmetric synthesis to be considered complementary and in some examples alternative to metal complexes/chiral ligands and enzymatic approaches. In this context, new methodologies of enantioselective epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes have been recently elaborated. The noteworthy features of these protocols focus on straightforwardly available, low cost, easy to handle organic catalysts and operational simplicity.

Cite this article as:

Lattanzi Alessandra, Advances in Asymmetric Epoxidation of α,β -Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds:The Organocatalytic Approach, Current Organic Synthesis 2008; 5 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157017908784221594