4.8 C-C Bond Formation (Metal-Carbene Catalyzed)

This chapter describes the use of catalytically generated transition-metal carbenoid complexes in the synthesis of enantioenriched products. The reactions discussed include cyclopropanations, C-H insertion reactions, reactions involving ylide formation, and aromatic addition/substitution. Although the principal focus in each area is on catalyst-controlled enantioselectivity, substrate-controlled reactions are also considered as appropriate. Within each transformation, the historical development of the stereoselective reactions is included, in addition to an overview of the application of the reactions to stereoselective synthesis of significant compounds, using examples from the recent literature.