Organocatalytic Asymmetric Vinylogous Aldol Reactions

The aldol reaction is one of the most predominantly used reactions for the formation of C-C bonds in synthetic organic chemistry. The vinylogous extension of this fundamental C-C bond-forming reaction to nucleophilic components, such as the vinylogous aldol reaction is significant because it provides rapid access to polyketide derivatives such as delta-hydroxy-beta-keto esters and alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-hydroxy carbonyl compounds. Further transformation of these compounds can be accomplished with good diastereoselectivity and leads the way to polyol units, a motif common to many pharmaceutically important natural products. Details of recent advances in the organocatalytic vinylogous aldol reaction and its applications are discussed in this review.