Allenes in Asymmetric Catalysis: Asymmetric Ring Opening of meso-Epoxides Catalyzed by Allene-Containing Phosphine Oxides

摘要

Asymmetric catalysis has revolutionized the synthesis of chiral, nonracemic materials. It has been the subject of academic inquiry and industrial implementation. The last several decades have witnessed continued introduction and development of chiral organic catalysts and ligands for transition- and main-group metals. Most existing ligands and organic catalysts are characterized by one of two types of chirality: some species owe their chirality to stereo-genie atoms, usually tetrahedral carbon or phosphorus; many others are chiral by virtue of hindered rotation around a carbon-carbon single bond, the exemplar of which is the binaphthyl backbone. Some of the most successful catalysts combine the elements of both central and axial chirality.