Transition-Metal Catalyzed Stereoselective Desymmetrization of Prochiral Cyclohexadienones.

The development of transition-metal catalyzed enantioselective and diastereoselective transformations has contributed many advances in the field of synthetic organic chemistry. Particularly, stereoselective desymmetrization of prochiral cyclohexadienones represents a powerful strategy for accessing highly functionalized and stereochemically enriched scaffolds, which are often found in biologically active compounds and natural products. In recent years, several research groups including our group have made a significant progress on transition-metal catalyzed stereoselective desymmetrizations of 2,5-cyclohexadienones. In this account, we will provide an overview of the recent developments in this area employing Pd, Cu, Rh, Au, Ag, Ni, Co, and Mn-catalysts.