Abstract

Activation of imines by hydrogen bonding is a very powerful way of promoting the synthesis of a variety of nitrogencontaining compounds of interest. Such a useful approach typically involves mild reaction conditions, simple experimental operations and metal-free reagents. The present review focuses on the recent development of new organocatalytic methods involving imines and related compounds as substrates in which activation through hydrogen bonding is performed. The different modes of activation are thoroughly illustrated with special emphasis on mechanistic aspects of the reactions and how activation is actually produced.

Keywords: Imines, organocatalysis, hydrogen-bond, bronsted acids, thioureas, phosphoric acids, Knoevenagel condensation, LUMO activation, HOMO activation), chalcogenides, BRONSTED CATALYSIS, SINGLE HYDROGEN-BONDING, peptidomimetics, cinchonine, enantioinduction