Highly chemo- and regioselective acylation of 2-aminopentane-1,5-diol derivatives has been achieved by organocatalysis. An acyl group can be chemoselectively introduced onto the sterically hindered secondary hydroxy group in the presence of the primary one by virtue of the molecular recognition event of the catalyst.

Cross-conjugated trienamines are introduced as a new concept in asymmetric organocatalysis. These intermediates are applied in highly enantioselective Diels-Alder and addition reactions, providing functionalized bicyclo[2.2.2]octane compounds and γ'-addition products, respectively. The nature of the transformations and the intermediates involved are investigated by computational calculations an...

An enantioselective organocatalytic alpha-trifluoromethylation of aldehydes has been accomplished using a commercially available, electrophilic trifluoromethyl source. The merging of Lewis acid and organocatalysis provides a new strategy for the enantioselective construction of trifluoromethyl stereogenicity, an important chiral synthon for pharmaceutical, materials, and agrochemical applicatio...

An efficient synthesis of spiropyrazolones based on organocatalysis is described. The reaction between pyrazolones, enolizable aldehydes and enals is catalyzed by secondary amine catalysts and affords the final spiro compounds bearing four contiguous chiral centers in good yields and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

Aryl aldehyde activation: Oxidative activation of 2-methylindole-3-carboxaldehyde (I) through N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysis generates heterocyclic ortho-quinodimethane (II) as a key intermediate. This intermediate then undergoes formal [4+2] cycloaddition with trifluoromethyl ketones or isatins to form polycyclic lactones containing a quaternary carbon center.

Ball-milling and pestle and mortar grinding have emerged as powerful methods for the development of environmentally benign chemical transformations. Recently, the use of these mechanochemical techniques in asymmetric organocatalysis has increased. This review highlights the progress in asymmetric organocatalytic reactions assisted by mechanochemical techniques.

A novel cascade organocatalysis that allows efficient and rapid access to diverse and structurally complex oxazolidin-2-ones from simple starting materials and catalysts has been developed. A possible mechanism of this reaction has been proposed based on D- and 13C-labeling experiments.

A novel organocatalytic strategy for the synthesis of highly substituted spirocyclopentaneoxindoles was developed employing simple nitrostyrenes and 3-substituted oxindoles as starting materials. Michael-Henry cascade reactions, enabled through cinchona alkaloid organocatalysis, provided products in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity in a single step.