Organocatalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Tetrahydropyridines

Tetrahydropyridines are important heterocycles present in many molecules of natural and non-natural origins that exhibit a wide array of biological activities. With several sp(3)-hybridized carbon atoms in their structure, they often include one or several stereogenic centers, whose control represents a great synthetic challenge. For the past two decades, enantioselective organocatalysis has developed as a very powerful strategy to perform the synthesis of enantioenriched compounds, including heterocycles. In this Microreview, we wish to provide the readers with a general overview about the organocatalytic strategies that have been used to achieve the preparation of diversified families of tetrahydropyridines, thereby providing elements of reflection for further developments.