Squaramides: Bridging from Molecular Recognition to Bifunctional Organocatalysis

In this minireview, squaramides are presented from their roots as artificial anion receptors in molecular recognition studies to their recent advances as powerful bifunctional hydrogen-bonding catalysts in asymmetric organocatalysis. The main features of the squaramido functionality and the direct comparison with the analogous ureas and thioureas are also discussed.