Bioinspired organocatalytic asymmetric reactions.

Several small organic molecule catalysts are reminiscent of natural enzymes in their mode of action and substrate interaction/activation. This striking similarity has been a great source of inspiration for the development of new organocatalytic asymmetric processes. A few representative examples, mostly dealing with catalysts interacting through multiple hydrogen-bonds (synthetic oxyanion holes), are highlighted in this perspective. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012