Asymmetric Synthesis of a Quaternary Carbon Stereogenic Center by Organocatalysis Using a Primary Amino Acid and Its Salt.

In this personal account, our recent developments on the asymmetric synthesis of a quaternary carbon stereogenic center by organocatalysis using a primary amino acid and its salt as a catalyst are described in three chapters: (1) conjugate addition to nitroalkenes and vinyl ketones, (2) nucleophilic addition to π‐allyl palladium complexes, and (3) nucleophilic substitution reactions with allyl and propargyl halides. By these methods, asymmetric α‐allylation of α‐branched aldehydes and ketones smoothly proceeded to give γ‐nitroaldehydes, ketoaldehydes, α‐allylated aldehydes, and α‐allylated β‐ketoesters possessing a quaternary carbon stereogenic center in good yields with high enantioselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]