Asymmetric catalytic synthesis of organic compounds using metal complexes in supercritical fluids

The applications of metal-based catalysts for the asymmetric synthesis of organic compounds in supercritical fluids are reviewed. Much of the work discussed concerns hydrogenation and hydroformylation of alkenes, but dihydoxylation and cyclopropanation reactions of alkenes are discussed as are asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions and aldol condensations. Supercritical fluids remove the need for harmful volatile organic solvents, but their use in separating the products from the catalyst by pressure swings or multiphasic systems is also described.

1 Introduction 2 Catalytic Reactions in Supercritical Fluids 2.1 Asymmetric Hydrogenation in Supercritical Fluids 2.2 Asymmetric Hydroformylation in Supercritical Fluids 2.3 Other Asymmetric Catalytic Reactions in Supercritical Fluids 3 Conclusions