Enantiopure 1,2-diarylethane-1,2-diols as chiral auxiliaries in stereoselective processes: Induction of molecular and supramolecular chirality

This review discusses how 1,2-diarylethane-1,2-diols (1) have been used to control stereoselective processes leading to the induction of a prevailing chirality in molecular and supramolecular structures. To this end this article is divided into three parts: (i) in the first one are described the synthesis and the stereochemical characterization of the above compounds; (ii) part two deals with the use of 1 as chiral auxiliaries in stereoselective processes (i.e. induction of a prevailing sense of chirality at a molecular level); (iii) part three discusses the use of derivatives of 1 as inducers of cholesteric mesophases in nematic solvents (i.e. induction of a prevailing sense of chirality at a supramolecular level).