Asymmetric benzoin reactions with N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts

Abstract

The discovery of stable carbenes in the last decade of the 20 th century has brought about extensive research on the chemistry of N-heterocyclic carbenes. Recently the powerful catalytic activity of N-heterocyclic carbenes has been demonstrated by new organocatalytic transformations. This review focuses on the asymmetric benzoin reactions catalyzed by Nheterocyclic carbenes. Chiral nucleophilic carbenes catalyze the benzoin condensation in good yields and exellent enantioselectivities.