Page 15 - Catalysts for Fine Chemical Synthesis Vol 1 - Robert & Poignant

Preface for Volume 1: Hydrolysis,

Oxidation and Reduction

A REVIEW OF NATURAL AND NON-NATURAL CATALYSTS IN
SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY: PRACTICAL TIPS FOR
SOME IMPORTANT OXIDATION AND REDUCTION REACTIONS

In this volume we indicate some of the different natural and non-natural
catalysts for hydrolysis, oxidation, reduction and carbon±carbon bond forming
reactions leading to optically active products. Literature references are given to
assist the reader to pertinent reviews. The list of references is not in the least
comprehensive and is meant to be an indicator rather than an exhaustive
compilation. It includes references up to mid-1999 together with a handful of
more recent reports.
The later sections of the book deal with the actual laboratory use of catalysts
for asymmetric reduction and oxidation reactions. Most of the protocols
describe non-natural catalysts principally because many of the corresponding
biological procedures were featured in the sister volume Preparative Biotrans-
formations. As in this earlier book, we have spelt out the procedures in great
detail, giving where necessary, helpful tips and, where appropriate, clear warn-
ings of toxicity, fire hazards, etc.
Many of the procedures have been validated in the Liverpool laboratories
(by GP). Other protocols were kindly submitted by colleagues from the USA,
Japan, the UK and mainland Europe. The names of the contributors are given
at the start of the corresponding protocol. These descriptions of the recipes also
contain references to the literature. In these cases the references point the reader
to the more practical aspects of the topic and are meant to complement rather
than repeat the references given in the first, overview chapter.
Some of the practicals describe the use of similar catalysts and/or catalysts
that accomplish the same task. This has been done purposely to try to get the
best match between the substrate described and the one being considered by an
interested reader. Moreover when catalysts can be compared, this has been
done. Sometimes a guide is given as to what we found to be the most useful
system in our hands. In this context, it is important to note that, except for
polyleucine-catalysed oxidations and the use of a bicyclic bisphosphinite for
asymmetric hydrogenation, the Liverpool group had no previous experience in