Asymmetric Organocatalysis: From Biomimetic Concepts to Applications in Asymmetric Synthesis

Asymmetric synthesis is a challenge for the modern-day organic chemist. The widely used asymmetric catalysis using chiral metal complexes often causes problems in dividing the products. The use of potentially toxic metal catalysts is particularly unwelcome in the synthesis of pharmaceutical substances and reactants in biomedical analysis. An elegant alternative is catalysis using small, chiral organic molecules. In this handbook, the experienced authors from academia and industry provide the first overview of the use of such metal-free organic catalysts in the laboratory. They cover all the important reaction types, such as nucleophilic substitution, nucleophilic addition, cycloaddition, oxidation and reduction, while also presenting different processes for dividing racemates. Additional emphasis is placed on the industrial applications of these new methods. With its comprehensive description of synthesis strategies and methods, this book targets chemists working in industry and academia and deserves a place in every laboratory.