The Synthesis of Terpenes via Enantioselective Organocatalysis

Abstract

Terpenes constitute a large class of compounds made up of isoprene C5 units that are present in natural products. Usually produced as secondary metabolites by plants, including algae, or by animals, they are found in essential oils and often exhibit important biological activities, for example, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, antimalarial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. The structurally related terpenoids, containing additional functional groups, are also particularly medicinally relevant. The development of synthetic procedures to obtain them is an active area of research. The presence of chiral centres has led to the development of enantioselective procedures, and lately, organocatalytic approaches have become more common. This review highlights recent advances in this field.