Nonlinear effects in asymmetric catalysis: Some recent aspects

Some basic definitions and principles dealing with nonlinear effects are recalled. Examples of amplification or depression of the expected ee of the product are presented for some catalytic reactions involving organometallic complexes with chiral ligands. A mathematical model has been set up in order to analyze various situations and to make some predictions. The special case of mixtures of diastereomeric ligands having pseudo-enantiomeric relationships is discussed. Finally, an example of nonlinear effects in stoichiometric asymmetric synthesis is described in the case of the asymmetric reduction of acetophenone by Ipc2BCl. © Acta Chemica Scandinavica 1996.