Enantioselective organocatalytic α-heterofunctionalization of active methines

The enantioselective alpha-heterofunctionalization of alpha-substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds is an attractive area of organic chemistry, thanks to the undoubted value of the final compounds as versatile intermediates for the synthesis of natural products and pharmaceutical targets. In this context, the organocatalytic approach is gaining importance, alongside the asymmetric metal-based catalysis, for the production of molecules with highly functionalized chiral quaternary stereocenters containing a carbon-heteroatom bond. This review aims to illustrate progress in the enantioselective alpha-amination, alpha-hydroxylation, alpha-sulfenylation and alpha-halogenation reactions of alpha-substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl and related compounds mediated by mono-, bi-, multi-functional organocatalysts, phosphoric acids and phase transfer catalysts appeared from 2002 to mid-2011.