Asymmetric Dearomatization Under Enzymatic Conditions

This chapter summarizes the state of the art in biocatalytic arene dearomatization. Overwhelmingly, this is carried out oxidatively, with formation of dearomatized cyclohexadiene-diols (so-called arene cis-diols) being the field in which the most extensive progress has been made. The dearomatized substances produced in this way are versatile chiral pool starting materials for synthesis, and they have been employed in total syntheses of many classes of natural products, as well as of nonnatural targets of industrial relevance. The known arene cis-diols are tabulated for easy reference and guidance is given on how to obtain arene cis-diols.