Organocatalytic Strategies for the Synthesis of Axially Chiral Compounds

Atropisomers are compounds in which chirality arises from hindered rotation along the carbon–carbon or carbon–heteroatom single bond. Recently, organocatalysis appeared to be a rapid, valuable, and efficient strategy for their preparation in an enantioselective manner. In this report a general overview of the most important organocatalyzed atroposelective transformations will be given pointing out in particular the specific role played by the catalyst. 1 Dynamic Kinetic Resolution 2 Desymmetrization of Biaryls 3 Direct Synthesis of Biaryls 4 Asymmetric Friedel–Crafts Amination of Naphthols 5 N-Alkylation via Phase-Transfer Catalysis 6 Desymmetrization of N -Arylmaleimides