Catalytic Asymmetric Darzens and Aza-Darzens Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Epoxides and Aziridines

This review presents an overview on the recent advances in the catalytic enantioselective Darzens and aza-Darzens reactions for the synthesis of enantiopure three-membered oxygen and nitrogen containing heterocycles. Since the synthesis of epoxides is the most widely explored, compared to their nitrogen counterparts, particularly true when asymmetric synthesis are considered, in the last decades several methodologies have appeared or improved and are now available for the preparation of aziridines in a highly stereo- and enantioselective manner. Catalytic asymmetric Darzens and aza-Darzens reaction constitute an important tool in modern organic chemistry, as there is an increased interest in bioactive natural products and pharmaceutical agents that contain these skeletons.