Advances in the Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral α-Aryl Ketones

An α-aryl-substituted enantioenriched ketone is a valuable building block for the production of both natural and medicinal compounds. Research into their asymmetric synthesis can be challenging yet rewarding because of the need to control regio-, chemo-, and enantioselectivity carefully. A wide range of catalytic strategies has been developed during the past three decades to gain access to these favored motifs. This review provides a comprehensive overview of catalytic approaches for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral α-aryl ketones, classifying the methods according to the type of catalyst employed, including chiral Brønsted acid and Lewis acid-assisted Brønsted acid catalysis, transition metal catalysis (palladium, nickel, copper, and cobalt systems), and N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis. The mechanistic diversity of these methods, encompassing enolate arylation, acylation, hydroacylation, protonation, rearrangement, and direct CH functionalization, has facilitated the synthesis of various chiral α-aryl ketones under consistently milder and more sustainable circumstances.