ABSTRACT
Enantiopure amines are present as key functional elements in a large majority of pharmaceutical drugs and drug candidates. Although in recent years great progress in asymmetric synthesis has been realized based on homogeneous catalysis,
biocatalysis,
and resolution processes combined with efficient racemization of the undesired enantiomer,
cost-effective synthesis of enantiopure amines continues to be a challenge for the fine chemical industry. The efficiency of these processes depends on, among other factors, the availability of a (chiral) starting material, reagents, auxiliaries, and catalysts. Furthermore, the presence of an efficient recycling process for expensive chiral auxiliaries and catalysts can be of decisive importance for an economically feasible process.
