Shi Epoxidation: A Great Shortcut to Complex Compounds

Abstract

Abstract Shi epoxidation provides an extremely powerful tool to access optically active epoxides, which undoubtedly belongs to one of the earliest and most successful organocatalytic systems. Several generations of chiral ketones have been developed to realize the asymmetric epoxidation of each type of unfunctionalized alkenes, including trans‐, trisubstituted olefins, cis‐olefins, terminal olefins, and tetrasubstituted olefins. Due to its reliability and high regio‐ and enantioselectivity, Shi epoxidation has been widely applied in the synthesis of complex natural products and biologically active molecules.

Topics & Concepts