Asymmetric catalysis

Patent Granted In general, enantioselective catalysis (known traditionally as asymmetric catalysis) refers to the use of chiral coordination complexes as catalysts. It is very commonly encountered, as it is effective for a broader range of transformations than any other method of enantioselective synthesis. The catalysts are typically rendered chiral by using chiral ligands, however it is also possible to generate chiral-at-metal complexes using simpler achiral ligands.[10] Most enantioselective catalysts are effective at low concentrations[11][12] making them well suited to industrial scale synthesis; as even exotic and expensive catalysts can be used affordably.[13] Perhaps the most versatile example of enantioselective synthesis is asymmetric hydrogenation, which is able to reduce a wide variety of functional groups.