Asymmetric catalysis with bifunctional cinchona alkaloid-based urea and thiourea organocatalysts

Cinchona alkaloid derivatives modified to include a (thio)urea component have emerged in the last three years as readily accessible, robust and tunable bifunctional organocatalysts for a range of synthetically useful transformations. The origins of these catalysts and the major developments in their application in enantioselective synthesis are reviewed.

• IR
  Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology
• SF
  Science Foundation Ireland