Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of chiral organic compounds: of ultra-high purity of >99% ee

Shortly after the discovery of zr-catalyzed carboalumination of alkynes in 1978,we sought expansion of the scope of this reaction so as to develop its alkene version for catalytic asymmetric c-c bond formation,namely the zaca (zr-catalyzed asymmetric carboalumination of alkenes). however,this seemingly easy task proved to be quite challenging. the zaca reaction was finally discovered in 1995 by suppressing three competitive side reactions,i.e.,(i) cyclic carbometalation,(ii) β-h transfer hydrometalation,and (iii) alkene polymerization. the zaca reaction has been used to significantly modernize and improve syntheses of various natural products including deoxypolypropionates and isoprenoids. this review focuses on our recent progress on the development of zaca-lipase-catalyzed acetylation-transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling processes for highly efficient and enantioselective syntheses of a wide range of chiral organiccompounds with ultra-high enantiomeric purities. © 2015 the japan academy.