Designer Lewis acid catalysts for selective organic synthesis

The present paper covers the progress in stereo-, regio-, and chemoselective carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions promoted by structurally well-designed aluminum aryloxides. Compared with conventional Lewis acids, these aluminum reagents strongly coordinate with various oxygen-containing substrates, and the coordination aptitude is strongly affected by the steric environment of the metal ligands. In principle, the carbonyl groups of the bound substrates are electronically activated but sterically deactivated depending on the aluminum reagent and the type of the reaction employed. This review specifically highlights the selective organic reactions using ATPH.