The chemical space of chiral Brønsted acid catalysts is defined by quantity and complexity, reflecting the diverse synthetic challenges confronted and the innovative molecular designs introduced. Here, we detail how this successful outcome is a powerful demonstration of the benefits of utilizing both local structure searches and a comprehensive understanding of catalyst performance for effective and efficient exploration of Brønsted acid properties. In this concept article we provide an evolutionary overview of this field by summarizing the approaches to catalyst optimization, the resulting structures, and functions.
Keywords: Brønsted Acid; Catalyst Design; Enantioselectivity; Noncovalent Interactions; Reaction Mechanism.
© 2024 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.