Catalysts Augmenting the Synthesis of Chiral Compounds and their Future Prospects: A Review

Abstract

Asymmetric synthesis is a method of organic chemistry in which a reaction is designed to preferentially produce one enantiomer, leading to the formation of a product with specific stereochemistry. At present, asymmetric synthesis has become essential to modern chemistry because lots of biologically active molecules exist as enantiomers having different physiological effects. It helps researchers to control stereochemistry with high accuracy. This method lowers the need for separation of the racemic mixture, which makes the process more efficient and cost-effective. Asymmetric synthesis plays a significant role in organic synthesis as it has the ability to selectively produce a single enantiomer from an achiral or racemic intermediate. Its application in the field of organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry has grown significantly, primarily for the synthesis of complex natural products. It plays a key role in improving drug performance and selectivity by understanding the relationship between chemical structure and biological activity. Advances in asymmetric synthesis have enabled the efficient construction of complex chiral molecules with high enantioselectivity, facilitating the development of enantiomerically pure drugs, agrochemicals, and advanced materials. Additionally, the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and computational modelling is expected to further enhance reaction design and predictability in asymmetric synthesis. Various catalysts, including organo- and metal-complex catalysts, have been discovered that promote and accelerate asymmetric synthesis. This review summarises the organocatalytic and organometallic approaches to asymmetric synthesis, highlighting the diverse catalysts employed, their synthetic applications, and future prospects in the field.