Green approaches to asymmetric catalytic synthesis

Chirality is widely accepted as an important factor in molecular recognition processes and the biological activity of many pharmaceutical drugs and agrochemicals; this is confirmed by the continuous need for synthetic methods which lead to single or enriched enantiomers of such compounds. In this context asymmetric catalytic synthesis is a fundamental pillar for its higher efficiency and economy compared to traditional methods based on diastereoselective reactions or resolution of racemates. By presenting a review of the various and more recently developed approaches for both metal-transition and organocatalysis, this volume describes the development of "greener" asymmetric reactions which preserve stereoselectivity. In the first chapter a short introduction of the methods for the preparation of chiral compounds is presented, while the second chapter is focused on the different classes of asymmetric catalysts today available and their structural optimization related with new concepts in catalysis. The activity of both metal-transition complexes and organocatalysts in alternative and more sustainable solvents is categorized in the third chapter and some promising strategies for the recycle of catalysts are also discussed. In the fourth chapter the design of alternative synthetic strategies and processes, more or less coupled with the use of microwave irradiation or non-traditional reactors, is outlined. For each topic, the fundamentals and some valuable applications are discussed (598 references).