Amide-based bifunctional organocatalysts in asymmetric reactions.

A series of amide-based bifunctional organocatalysts have been utilized in asymmetric reactions. Prolinamide analogues have been designed to catalyze asymmetric reactions via enamine intermediates with the assistance of tunable hydrogen bonding. In addition, the combination of various Lewis base functional groups, such as guanidine, N-oxide and phosphane, with an amide moiety have also constituted efficient bifunctional organocatalysts with unique reactivity and selectivity.