Enamine-based organocatalysis with proline and diamines: the development of direct catalytic asymmetric Aldol, Mannich, Michael, and Diels-alder reactions.

Enamines and imines have long been recognized as key intermediates in enzyme catalysis, particularly within a class of enzymes organic chemists would very much like to emulate, the aldolases. Here we summarize the contributions of this laboratory to converting enzymatic enamines, and in some cases imines, into a versatile catalytic asymmetric strategy powered by small organic molecules.