Organocatalysis: A brief overview on its evolution and applications

Abstract

The use of small organic molecules as catalysts has gained increasing importance recently. These substances, the so-called organocatalysts, present a lot of advantages, like being less toxic, less polluting, and more economically viable than the organometallic catalysts that dominate asymmetric synthesis. This work intends to briefly show some classic works and recent publications, explaining the advantages of organocatalysis and the different types of compounds used in this field, as well as their course of action.