Recent advances in catalytic asymmetric reactions of Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts

Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts have become an efficient synthon for the construction of C–C or C–heteroatom bonds, and have been widely used in the asymmetric synthesis of various new optically pure compounds. The use of Morita–Baylis–Hillman acetates in asymmetric catalytic reactions has exploded since the pioneering work of Kim and co-workers. In this review, the remarkable progress of Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts in the asymmetric construction of chiral compounds from 2012 is summarized and discussed based on the different reaction types.