Organocatalysis of asymmetric aldol reaction. Catalysts and reagents

The review is devoted to the application of organocatalysis for the asymmetric aldol reaction, which is one of the most important methods for carbon–carbon bond formation in organic compounds. The mechanism of enamine catalysis and the main types of organocatalysts for the aldol reaction are considered, data on this type of reactions involving carbonyl compounds with various electronic and spatial structures are classified. The effects of organocatalyst structure on the regio-, stereo- and enantioselectivity of intramolecular and intermolecular aldol reactions are reviewed.