Organocatalysis

Chemical synthesis is one of the key technologies underlying modern drug discovery and development. For the design and accessibility of novel structures and the rapid preparation of new test compounds and development candidates with often highly complex chemical architecture, it is essential to use state-of-the-art chemical synthesis technologies. Recent developments in the field of asymmetric catalysis point to a third class of catalysts besides the established enzymes and metal complexes, so-called organocatalysts. These low-molecular-weight, organic molecules enable highly chemo- and stereoselective chemical transformations for the rapid assembly of complex bioactive molecules of interest for the pharmaceutical industry. §This book presents the contributions from leading experts, with backgrounds in academia and industry, to an Ernst Schering Research Foundation Symposium held in April 2007. It illustrates current progress in organocatalysis in functional group interconversions, organocatalytic CC- and CX-bond formations with small molecules as well as peptide-based catalysts and genetically engineered enzymes and their applications in natural product and drug syntheses. It will be of interest to those who want a general overview of the topic, but also to those who want to learn more about the state of the art, current trends and perspectives in this highly dynamic field of research.This book provides an excellent overview on state-of-the-art of modern organocatalysis. It presents the contributions from leading experts, with backgrounds in academia and industry, to an Ernst Schering Research Foundation Symposium held in April 2007. It will be of interest to those who want a general overview of the topic, but also to those who want to learn more about the state-of-the-art, current trends and perspectives in this highly dynamic field of research.Due to the emergence of organocatalysis as a highly active and very exciting field of research both in academia and the life sciences industry, an Ernst Schering Research Foundation Symposium was organized in 2007 to bring together the scientific leaders in this field and to discuss the basics and current progress of organocatalysis and its application in drug discovery. Various aspects of organocatalysis are addressed in this volume, covering a broad range of synthetic transformations such as functional group interconversions as well as CC- and CX-bond formations and their applications in natural product and drug syntheses. In addition, the design and scope of various catalyst systems are discussed, from small molecules, to peptides, to genetically engineered enzymes.