The Alternative Route to Enantiopure Multicomponent Reaction Products: Biocatalytic or Organocatalytic Enantioselective Production of Inputs for Multicomponent Reactions

To access enantiopure multicomponent reaction (MCR) products, the two most convenient approaches are (1) the development of an asymmetric catalytic version of the MCR, starting from achiral substrates; and (2) the use of chiral, enantiomerically pure inputs by taking advantage of the substrate-controlled diastereoselection achieved during the MCR step. In this microreview we will focus on the second alternative strategy and, more specifically, on the generation of chiral inputs through biocatalytic or organocatalytic methodologies.