Elucidation of the Cation−π Interaction in Small-Molecule Asymmetric Catalysis

Abstract

The cation–π interaction has been long-established to play an important role in molecular recognition, supramolecular chemistry, and molecular biology. In contrast, its potential application in small-molecule catalysis, especially as a selectivity-determining factor in asymmetric synthesis has been overlooked until very recently. This dissertation begins with an extensive literature review on the state-of-the-art research on the application of cation–π interactions in non-enzymatic catalysis of organic and organometallic transformations. The research in this field has been largely inspired and guided by the related biosynthetic systems incorporating the same type of interactions.