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English correction fees (250 CHF) will be added in certain cases (1050 CHF per paper for those papers that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections.). http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/16/3/2065/ The anticipated worldwide increase in biodiesel production will result in an accumulation of glycerol for which there are insufficient conventional uses. The surplus of this by-product has increased rapidly during the last decade, prompting a search for new glycerol applications. We describe here the synthesis of dissymmetric chlorohydrin esters from symmetric 1,3-dichloro-2-propyl esters obtained from glycerol. We studied the influence of two solvents: 1,4-dioxane and 1-butanol and two bases: sodium carbonate and 1-butylimidazole, on the synthesis of dissymmetric chlorohydrin esters. In addition, we studied the influence of other bases (potassium and lithium carbonates) in the reaction using 1,4-dioxane as the solvent. The highest yield was obtained using 1,4-dioxane and sodium carbonate. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/16/3/2065/ Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 CET Molecules 2011-03-02 16 3 Article 2065 2074 1420-3049 From Symmetric Glycerol Derivatives to Dissymmetric Chlorohydrins 2011-03-02 doi: 10.3390/molecules16032065 Carmen Solarte Marc Escribà Jordi Eras Gemma Villorbina Ramon Canela Mercè Balcells http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/4/2771/ A general approach to (4S,5S)-4-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-N-(4-methoxybenzyl) amides 10 based on a diastereoselective reduction of (5S,6RS)-6-alkyl-5-benzyloxy-6-hydroxy-2-piperidinones 6 and their tautomeric ring-opened keto amides 7 is described. The reduction with L-Selectride at -20 °C to room temperature afforded the products 10 in excellent yields and moderate to high syn-diastereoselectivities. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/4/2771/ Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2010-04-16 15 4 Article 2771 2781 1420-3049 A General and Simple Diastereoselective Reduction by L-Selectride: Efficient Synthesis of Protected (4S,5S)-Dihydroxy Amides 2010-04-16 doi: 10.3390/molecules15042771 Yin Ye Yu Liu http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/4/2551/ To map out the efficient organocatalyst requirements in the Michael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl indane compounds to nitrostyrenes, a dozen different amino organocatalysts containing a p-toluenesulfonyl group (Ts) have been evaluated; excellent enantio-selectivities (up to er 92:8) were obtained with a primary amine-based Ts-DPEN catalyst and a plausible catalytic reaction mechanism was proposed on the basis of the experimental results. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/4/2551/ Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2010-04-12 15 4 Article 2551 2563 1420-3049 Organocatalytic Michael Addition of 1,3-Dicarbonyl Indane Compounds to Nitrostyrenes 2010-04-12 doi: 10.3390/molecules15042551 Jiang Yang Ju Li Luo Lai Jiang Xu http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/3/1442/ A novel chiral macrocyclic ligand incorporating a chiral salen moiety into a framework containing two biphenyl units was synthesized. Structural properties and conformational aspects of the free ligand and an UO2 complex were studied by using NMR spectroscopy in solution and MM calculations. The Mn(III) complex was tested as catalyst in enantioselective oxidation of prochiral unfunctionalized olefins to the corresponding optically active epoxides under very mild conditions. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/3/1442/ Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CET Molecules 2010-03-09 15 3 Article 1442 1452 1420-3049 Synthesis and Conformational Study of a Novel Macrocyclic Chiral(Salen) ligand and its Uranyl and Mn Complexes 2010-03-09 doi: 10.3390/molecules15031442 Maria E. Amato Francesco P. Ballistreri Andrea Pappalardo Gaetano A. Tomaselli Rosa M. Toscano http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/2/1041/ An overview of the synthesis and applications of chiral 2,3-epoxy alcohols containing unsaturated chains is presented. One of the fundamental synthetic routes to these compounds is Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, which is reliable, highly chemoselective and enables easy prediction of the product enantioselectivity. Thus, unsaturated epoxy alcohols are readily obtained by selective oxidation of the allylic double bond in the presence of other carbon-carbon double or triple bonds. The wide availability of epoxy alcohols with unsaturated chains, the versatility of the epoxy alcohol functionality (e.g. regio- and stereo-selective ring opening; oxidation; and reduction), and the arsenal of established alkene chemistries, make unsaturated epoxy alcohols powerful starting materials for the synthesis of complex targets such as biologically active molecules. The popularization of ring-closing metathesis has further increased their value, making them excellent precursors to cyclic compounds. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/2/1041/ Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CET Molecules 2010-02-23 15 2 Review 1041 1073 1420-3049 Synthetic Applications of Chiral Unsaturated Epoxy Alcohols Prepared by Sharpless Asymmetric Epoxidation 2010-02-23 doi: 10.3390/molecules15021041 Antoni Riera María Moreno http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/2/917/ Organocatalytic asymmetric α-oxidation and amination reactions of carbonyl compounds are highly useful synthetic methodologies, especially in generating chiral building blocks that previously have not been easily accessible by traditional methods. The concept is relatively new and therefore the list of new catalysts, oxidizing and aminating reagents, as well as new substrates, are expanding at an amazing rate. The scope of this review includes new reactions and catalysts, mechanistic aspects and synthetic applications of α-oxidation, hydroxylation, aminoxylation, amination, hydrazination, hydroxyamination and related α-heteroatom functionalization of aldehydes, ketones and related active methylene compounds published during 2005–2009. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/15/2/917/ Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CET Molecules 2010-02-11 15 2 Review 917 958 1420-3049 Organocatalyzed Asymmetric α-Oxidation, α-Aminoxylation and α-Amination of Carbonyl Compounds 2010-02-11 doi: 10.3390/molecules15020917 Tirayut Vilaivan Worawan Bhanthumnavin http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/14/12/5298/ The protecting-group-free asymmetric synthesis of 1,2,4-trideoxy-1,4-imino-L-xylitol is readily achieved in five steps from 2-deoxy-D-ribose and with an overall yield of 48%. Key in this synthesis is the application of our recently developed Vasella-reductive amination and carbamate annulation methodologies to the synthesis of 2-deoxy-aza-sugars. The carbamate annulation occurred with excellent yield and diastereoselectively (>20:1 d.r.), in favour of the 3,4-cis isomer. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/14/12/5298/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 CET Molecules 2009-12-16 14 12 Article 5298 5307 1420-3049 Protecting-Group-Free Synthesis of 2-Deoxy-Aza-Sugars 2009-12-16 doi: 10.3390/molecules14125298 Emma Marie Dangerfield Catherine Heather Plunkett Bridget Louise Stocker Mattie Simon Maria Timmer http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/14/12/5216/ The four-step, asymmetric synthesis of a chiral propargyl alcohol 1 from (R)-pantolactone is described. A key feature of the synthesis is a diastereoselective acetylide addition to a chiral α-alkoxy-aldehyde 7, in which unusual Felkin selectivity is observed, despite the potential for chelation control. Crystalline propargyl alcohol 1 is valuable for complex molecule synthesis, and is easy to prepare in multi-gram quantities and high diastereomeric purity. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/14/12/5216/ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 CET Molecules 2009-12-15 14 12 Article 5216 5222 1420-3049 A Striking Exception to the Chelate Model for Acyclic Diastereocontrol: Efficient Access to a Versatile Propargyl Alcohol for Chemical Synthesis 2009-12-15 doi: 10.3390/molecules14125216 Sami F. Tlais Ronald J. Clark Gregory B. Dudley http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/14/8/3030/ The reaction of indole with chalcones, to give Michael-type adducts, was found to occur with good efficiency (up to 98% yield) and moderate enantioselectivity (up to 52% e.e.) in the presence of a chiral BINOL-based phosphoric acid. Furthermore, the alkylation products can be obtained in much higher e.e.s after one only crystallization. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/14/8/3030/ Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2009-08-13 14 8 Article 3030 3036 1420-3049 Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts Alkylation of Indole with Chalcones Catalyzed by Chiral Phosphoric Acids 2009-08-13 doi: 10.3390/molecules14083030 Arrigo Scettri Rosaria Villano Maria Rosaria Acocella