Recent Advances in Catalytic Asymmetric Desymmetrization Reactions

RECENT ADVANCES IN CATALYTIC ASYMMETRIC DESYMMETRIZATION REACTIONS 

Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA 

New Frontiers in Asymmetric Catalysis, Edited by Koichi Mikami and Mark Lautens Copyright 2007 John Wiley Sons, Inc. 

Whatever the nomenclamre, the concept of an enantioselective desymmetrization can be a powerful strategy when executed efficiently. The ability of the reaction to simultaneously control multiple stereogenic centers in a single transformation is attractive. The caveat that must be applied is that the substrates are not always readily available and the success of the reaction may be greatly tempered by the difficulty of accessing the starting material.  

The purpose of this review is to cover catalytic enantioselective desymmetriza-tions that have appeared in the literamre from early 1999 to mid-2004. Stoichiometric desymmetrizations will not be considered. Enzymatic desymmetrizations will also not be considered, largely because this method is firmly engrained as a powerful technique and the bulk of the work in this area in recent years has centered on applications of the method to specific substrates rather than developmental advances. This review will also attempt to focus on method development rather than application to synthesis. This field has recently been reviewed, and the purpose of this manuscript is to complement the previous treatises of this subject. 

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