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Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks MOFs
Published on: January 17, 2020
Light-Enabled Enantiodivergence: Stereospecific Reduction of Activated Alkenes Using a Single Organocatalyst
Theresa Hostmann1, John J Molloy1, Kathrin Bussmann1
1Organisch-Chemisches Institut , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster , Corrensstrasse 40 , 48149 Münster , Germany.
Abstract:
Light-enabled enantiodivergence is demonstrated in which the alkene substrate configuration is manipulated (E → Z) prior to organocatalytic reduction with a chiral thiourea and Hantzsch ester. This allows stereodivergent reduction to be regulated at the substrate level with high fidelity and mitigates the need for a second, enantiomeric catalyst (up to 93:07 and 95:5 er). The synthetic utility of this strategy has been demonstrated in the synthesis of the weight-loss drug (R)-Lorcaserin (Belviq) and a potent AMPA modulator.
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