Abstract

This chapter reports advances in synthetic methodologies employing chiral auxiliaries for the stereoselective synthesis of biologically active natural molecules. Derivatives of naturally occurring compounds such as amino acids, carbohydrates, and terpenes, chiral auxiliaries have been described as an essential aid for the construction of highly complex molecules. Among these auxiliaries, we highlight those of Evans, Corey, Yamada, Enders, Oppolzer, Kunz, Meyers, and Schöllkopf, whose contributions led to a remarkable progress in asymmetric synthesis in the last decades and continue to bring advances until the present day.