Small molecule asymmetric catalysts are often described as being "good" or "bad" but to date there has been no way of comparing catalyst efficiency quantitatively. We define a simple formula, Asymmetric Catalyst Efficiency (ACE), that allows for such a comparison. We propose that a catalyst is more efficient if fewer atoms are utilised to give a product in a required enantiomeric excess. We ill...

We report the first example of catalytic asymmetric direct amination of α-monosubstituted nitroacetates using di-tert-butyl azodicarboxylate. The simple and easily available Hatakeyama's catalyst β-ICD 11 was found to be a highly enantioselective catalyst for this reaction.

The challenge in DNA-based asymmetric catalysis is to perform a reaction in the vicinity of the helix by incorporating a small-molecule catalyst anchored to the DNA in a covalent, dative, or non-covalent yet stable fashion in order to ensure high levels of enantio-discrimination. Here, we report the first generation of a DNA-based catalyst bound to a cellulose matrix. The chiral biomaterial is ...

Both PC-cyclometalated and PCP-pincer type palladium catalysts have recently been found to be robust and efficacious catalysts for the asymmetric P-H addition reaction involving activated olefins. Our studies on the asymmetric P-H addition of diphenylphosphine to malonate ester and α,β,γ,δ-alkylidenemalonate ester revealed for the first time that the catalyst choice can have a dramatic impact i...

A new microporous metal-organic framework compound featuring chiral (salen)Mn struts is highly effective as an asymmetric catalyst for olefin epoxidation, yielding enantiomeric excesses that rival those of the free molecular analogue. Framework confinement of the manganese salen entity enhances catalyst stability, imparts substrate size selectivity, and permits catalyst separation and reuse.

The field of organocatalysis, more specifically asymmetric is continuously expanding having grown significantly over the recent years. However, despite this exponential expansion, ability to determine with any degree certainty reaction mechanisms these types reactions fails keep within pace. Due increasing calculation capacity and methods accuracy, computational methodologies have been establis...

Hydrogenolysis is an important synthetic method in organic chemistry, and has been widely applied in industrial processes, natural product synthesis, and the removal of waste materials. In practice, most hydrogenolysis reactions have been used for the synthesis of racemic or achiral compounds. Very few studies on asymmetric homogeneous hydrogenolysis have been reported. The first example, repor...

Arylalkylamines are of interest as building blocks for the synthesis of biologically active compounds and as chiral ligands or chiral auxiliaries in stereoselective syntheses [1]. Their stereoselective synthesis has been achieved by enantioselective reduction of ketimines using chiral reagents [2], as for example Corey’s oxaborolidines [3], or proline-derived triacyloxyborohydrides [4]. Particu...

There is a great demand for development of catalyst systems that are not only efficient and highly enantioselective but are also environmentally benign. Herein we report investigations into the catalytic asymmetric addition of alkyl and functionalized alkyl groups to ketones under highly concentrated and solvent-free conditions. In comparison with standard reaction conditions employing toluene ...