Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Isoindolinones.

As important reactive species, isoindolinones represent a cluster of valuable building blocks for the construction of natural-product-like compounds. In particular, chiral isoindolinones are the key structural feature of naturally occurring bioactive molecules. During the past decade, great advances have been made in the asymmetric synthesis of isoindolinone skeleton compounds. Hence, recent progress in catalytic asymmetric synthesis of isoindolinones is reviewed here, with emphasis on chiral organocatalysis and transition metal complexes enabled transformations. Different organocatalysts (chiral phosphoric acids, phase transfer catalysts, chiral thioureas) and chiral transition-metal complexes (Rh, Pd, Ir, Cu, Mg, and Ni) are included in this transformation.