Organocatalytic Strategies for the Synthesis of Axially Chiral Compounds

Atropisomers are compounds in which chirality arises from hindered rotation along the carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom single bond. Recently, organocatalysis appeared to be a rapid, valuable, and efficient strategy for their preparation in an enantioselective manner. In this report a general overview of the most important organocatalyzed atroposelective transformations will be given pointing out in particular the specific role played by the catalyst. 1 Dynamic Kinetic Resolution 2 Desymmetrization of Biaryls 3 Direct Synthesis of Biaryls 4 Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts Amination of Naphthols 5 N-Alkylation via Phase-Transfer Catalysis 6 Desymmetrization of N-Arylmaleimides