Stereoisomers and Stereoselective Reactions—Departure into Third Dimension

Stereoisomers and Stereoselective Reactions— Departure into Third Dimension  

Abstract The basics of stereoselective reactions and reaction stereochemistry—the relation of stereoselectivity to the topology of tetrahedral and planar units in organic molecules—are discussed. The kinetic control of enantioselective reactions and characteristics of enantioselective and diastereoslective reactions is presented. Asymmetric syntheses are exemplified by the hydrogenation of C=0 and C=NR bonds in prochiral substrates catalyzed by organometallic complexes with chiral phosphine ligands. The mechanism of asymmetric alkylation of stabilized carban-ions in specifically designed chiral substrates and the practicability of this mefliod in the preparation of optically pure a-alkyl carboxylic acids are discussed. The synthetic approach to chiral auxiliaries and importance of recycling are presented. 

The progress of modem synthetic organic chemistry is largely related to the discovery of new asymmetric or enantioselective reactions, particularly those catalyzed by chiral catalysts. In this chapter, basic knowledge on stereoisomerism and reaction stereochemistry is correlated with selected examples of asymmetric reactions to facilitate the discussion of stereoselective and asymmetric reactions in the next chapters. 

Sunjic and V. Petrovic Perokovic, Organic Chemistry from Retrosynthesis to Asymmetric Synthesis, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-29926-6 3 

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