Transition-Metal-Free Enantioselective Reactions Of Organomagnesium Reagents Mediated By Chiral Ligands

Organomagnesium reagents are among the most important reagents in organic chemistry because of their great utility in forming carbon-carbon bonds. Although most enantioselective reactions using these organometallics involve transmetalation, the past decade has witnessed impressive advances in direct chiral-ligand-mediated reactions of organomagnesiums. This short review presents an overview of these achievements in enantioselective nucleophilic additions and substitutions.1 Introduction2 Enantioselective Nucleophilic Additions2.1 Addition to C=O Bonds2.2 Addition to C=N Bonds2.3 Addition to C=C Bonds3 Enantioselective Substitution Reactions3.1 Sulfoxide-Magnesium Exchange3.2 Desymmetrization via Anhydride Opening3.3 Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation (AAA)4 Conclusion