Catalytic asymmetric carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions in aqueous media

The development of enantioselective transformations has been the subject of numerous research efforts. In recent years, a variety of efficient asymmetric catalysts for different organic reactions in aqueous media have been introduced. This review summarizes an analysis of chiral metal complex reactions catalyzed as well as organocatalyzed reactions in aqueous media. The applications of a variety of chiral ligands alone, or in association with metal complexes, in water alone, as well as other conditions such as reactions in water in the presence of surfactants or in mixtures of water and organic solvents are described. Complete up to date results concerning asymmetric aldol reactions, 1,4-conjugate addition reactions, Mannich reactions, Diels-Alder reactions, Friedel-Craft reactions and so on have appeared in the literature. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.