Recent Progress in Three-Component Reactions. An Update

The direct catalytic asymmetric addition of unmodified carbonyl compounds to preformed or in situ-generated imines has emerged as a promising new route to optically enriched alpha- and beta-amino acid derivatives, beta-lactams, and 1,2- and gamma-amino alcohols. The direct catalytic asymmetric Mannich reactions are mediated by small organometallic and organic amine catalysts that can achieve levels of selectivity similar to those possible with natural enzymes. The different small-molecule catalysts described here are complementary in their applications. They also complement each other in syn or anti selectivity of the direct asymmetric Mannich reaction. In this Account, we highlight the recent developments in and contributions to this research.