Abstract
Epoxides and aziridines are important pharmacologically active compounds that are
found in many drugs. These three-membered rings are also employed in the synthesis
of a wide range of other heterocycles. In this account, we highlight the contributions
of our research group to the organocatalyzed asymmetric synthesis of epoxides and
aziridines from α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, followed by multicomponent reactions
that afford novel peptidomimetics. Additionally, these scaffolds have been employed
in the synthesis of lactones, lactams, and hydantoins, showcasing their versatility
in drug development and synthetic chemistry.
1 Introduction
2 Epoxides
2.1 γ-Lactones
3 Aziridines
3.1 γ-Lactams
3.2 Hydantoins
4 Conclusion
Key words
epoxide - aziridine γ-lactams - γ-lactones - hydantoins - cathepsins - organocatalysis
