Abstract
An overview of the most commonly used guanidine organocatalysts and their applications
in organic synthesis is presented. Privileged structures of open, monocyclic and bicyclic
guanidines and guanidinium salts are showcased with prominent examples from the literature.
Free guanidines have found widespread use as strong Brønsted base catalysts in asymmetric
synthesis. Guanidinium salts are employed as weak Brønsted acids or hydrogen-bond-donor
catalysts and chiral counterions. The nucleophilic and Lewis basic properties of guanidines
are still rarely exploited, but, as of late, have been gaining increasing recognition.
1 Introduction
2 Brønsted Base Catalysis
3 Hydrogen-Bond-Donor and Brønsted Acid Catalysis
4 Lewis Base Catalysis
5 Lewis Acid Catalysis
6 Conclusion
Key words
guanidines - catalysis - stereoselective synthesis - nucleophiles - domino reaction
