The Series is intended to provide an accessible reference for postgraduates and industrialists working in the field of catalysis and its applications. Books will be produced either as monographs or reference handbooks. The Series will cover research developments and applications of catalysis, in both academia and industry. --Résumé de l'éditeur.

Considering the challenge of sustainability facing our society in the coming decades, catalysis is without any doubt a research area of major importance. In this regard, asymmetric organocatalysis, now considered a pillar of green chemistry, deserves particular attention. The first chapter of this volume examines the topic of asymmetric organocatalysis in light of radical chemistry. Recent important progress in this field has been attained by promoting the formation and harnessing the high reactivity of open-shell intermediates. Merging organocatalysis with radical chemistry has been the key to solving some longstanding bottlenecks, and has also significantly contributed to reinforcing the key role of organocatalysis in asymmetric catalysis. This chapter presents the most significant developments in this area, with a particular focus on asymmetric SOMO- and photoredox-organocatalyzed transformations. Chapter 2 focuses on quaternary ammonium salts (R4N+X-), especially chiral derivatives, and their behavior as unique catalysts in organocatalysis. Forming chiral ion-pairs capable of promoting asymmetric reactions, they also operate as unique "transporters involved in phase transfer catalytic processes between liquid–liquid or liquid–solid systems. Furthermore, they offer unique opportunities when forming cooperative ion-paired entities R4N+X-, allowing a synergistic implication of the counter-ion X- either as Brønsted bases or Lewis bases. Specific design of such chiral catalysts in modern chemistry and better insight into their mode of activation facilitates efficient and unprecedented chemical transformations. This chapter provides an overview of the use of chiral quaternary ammonium salts in organocatalysis, emphasizing both general mechanistic aspects and the scope of this approach. - Presents the most significant developments with a particular focus on asymmetric SOMO- and photoredox-organocatalyzed transformations - Givies a larger overview of chiral ammonium salts in organocatalysis rather than a specific review dedicated to specialists in this area - Affords a historical evolution of this field of research

This book provides an excellent overview on state-of-the-art of modern organocatalysis. It presents the contributions from leading experts, with backgrounds in academia and industry, to an Ernst Schering Research Foundation Symposium held in April 2007. It will be of interest to those who want a general overview of the topic, but also to those who want to learn more about the state-of-the-art, current trends and perspectives in this highly dynamic field of research.

Structured in three parts this manual recollects efficient organocatalytic transformations around clear principles that meet actual standard in asymmetric synthesis. Chapters were written by acknowledged leaders of the organocatalysis field, and are presented in a concise way. Volume 1: Privileged Catalysts gives insight to readers to the continuously increasing variety of catalysts, and the relatively complex interactions that make organocatalytic reactions selective. An appendix recollects catalyst structures with the adequate cross-references. Volume 2: Activations covers the fundamental activation types (non-covalent and covalent activations) and helps understanding the importance of physical parameters, and in particular, the role of water, that influences reactivity and selectivity. Volume 3: Reactions and Applications highlights transformations by reaction types. The final part of this volume is dedicated to application in multistep synthesis and industrial applications. Considering the ever increasing interest in the organocatalysis field, the book aims addressing to a large audience: to academic, and, industrial researchers, students and teachers who are interested in synthetic organic chemistry at advanced level. This book provides non-specialists with an introduction to the topic as well as serving as a valuable source for newcomers and researchers searching for an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of this promising area of synthetic organic chemistry.

Asymmetric catalysis represents still one of the major challenges in modern organic chemistry. Besides the well-established asymmetric metal-complex-catalysed syntheses and biocatalysis, the use of "pure" organic catalysts turned out to be an additional efficient tool for the synthesis of chiral building blocks. In this handbook, the experienced authors from academia and industry provide the first overview of the important use of such metal-free organic catalysts in organic chemistry. With its comprehensive description of numerous reaction types, e.g., nucleophilic substitution and addition reactions as well as cycloadditions and redox reactions, this book targets organic chemists working in industry and academia, and deserves a place in every laboratory.

Organocatalysis has recently attracted enormous attention as green and sustainable catalysis. It was realized as a fundamental field providing wide families of catalysts for important organic transformations. It will certainly develop in the future. Given the diversity of accessible transformations, metal-catalyzed reactions have become major tools in organic synthesis that will undoubtedly continue to have an important impact in the future. Alternatively, over the last years, a metal-free approach such as organocatalysis has reached a level of faithfulness, allowing researchers to discover new catalytic systems based on engagement of new or early-prepared organic molecules as organocatalysts. Organocatalysis meets green chemistry principles, especially the reduction of toxicity and chemical accidents, the biodegradability, and the use of benign and friendlier reaction media and conditions.

The synthesis of enantiopure organic compounds is a key issue for several applications in pharmacology, food chemistry, agricultural chemistry, perfumery, materials science and other industrial sectors. Nowadays, asymmetric catalysis is undoubtedly the most important tool to achieve this goal. This technology, in fact, enables the production of large amounts of enantiomerically enriched compounds, employing relatively small quantities of chiral enantiopure catalysts, which is exactly what is accomplished by enzymes in nature. Since the pioneering works of Noyori, Knowles and Sharpless, which later earned them the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, asymmetric catalysis has experienced a rapid and relentless development in the last fifty years. The tremendous expansion of enantioselective transformations, the design of novel and more efficient organometallic and organic catalysts, the development of sophisticated bioreactors and cell factories, are just some of the elements responsible for such growth. However, new challenges of asymmetric catalysis are devoted to enhancing the process’s sustainability, by the introduction of recyclable and low-cost catalysts, and the use of renewable starting materials and energy source. This book provides an overview of some of these development directions and comprises a collection of review papers and a research article authored by renowned researchers actively involved in this field. The topics covered by the review papers are photoredox-catalyzed reactions of imines, asymmetric catalytic electrosynthesis, cooperative catalysis of chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes and Lewis acid, and asymmetric ring-opening reactions of epoxides catalyzed by metal–salen complexes. The research article presents a proline-catalyzed aldol reaction in water–methanol solvent mixture.

Organocatalysis is considered today one of the three pillars in asymmetric catalysis, along with biocatalysis and organometallic catalysis. The possibility to combine organocatalysis with radical chemistry, photocatalysis and enabling technologies opened new avenues in organic synthesis.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience.Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.The chapter "Enamine/Transition Metal Combined Catalysis: Catalytic Transformations Involving Organometallic Electrophilic Intermediates" is available open access under a CC BY 4.0 License via link.springer.com.

K.C. Nicolaou - Winner of the Nemitsas Prize 2014 in Chemistry This book is a must for every synthetic chemist. With didactic skill and clarity, K. C. Nicolaou and E. Sorensen present the most remarkable and ingenious total syntheses from outstanding synthetic organic chemists. To make the complex strategies more accessible, especially to the novice, each total synthesis is analyzed retrosynthetically. The authors then carefully explain each synthetic step and give hints on alternative methods and potential pitfalls. Numerous references to useful reviews and the original literature make this book an indispensable source of further information. Special emphasis is placed on the skillful use of graphics and schemes: Retrosynthetic analyses, reaction sequences, and stereochemically crucial steps are presented in boxed sections within the text. For easy reference, key intermediates are also shown in the margins. Graduate students and researchers alike will find this book a gold mine of useful information essential for their daily work. Every synthetic organic chemist will want to have a copy on his or her desk.