Chapter 3: Dynamic Kinetic Resolutions Promoted by Amino Acid Catalysts and Derivatives

This chapter is dedicated to dynamic kinetic resolutions of all types catalysed by amino acids and their derivatives. Among these widely employed organocatalysts, the most used is the cheap and natural amino acid l-proline. In particular, enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee have been reported by several groups for l-proline-catalysed aldol reactions evolving through dynamic kinetic resolution. In addition, a wide variety of modifications in the structure of l-proline have been designed to lead to a catalogue of highly efficient organocatalysts to be applied in a variety of dynamic kinetic resolutions, spanning from simple transformations, such as aldol reactions and reductions, among other reactions, to more complex and sophisticated domino and tandem reactions. Furthermore, other chiral amino acid derivatives, such as peptides, have been successfully applied to promote dynamic kinetic resolutions.