Stereoselective Electrophilic Cyclization

Akira Sakakura* and Kazuaki Ishihara* 
Chem. Rec.2015, 15 (4), 728–742.  (Published online: July 6, 2015) 
DOI: 10.1002/tcr.201500005 

Electrophilic cyclizations of unactivated alkenes play highly important roles in the synthesis of useful building blocks.  This account describes our contributions to the rational design of monofunctionalized chiral Lewis base catalysts for enantioselective iodo- and protocyclizations.  For the stereoselective promotion of electrophilic bromocyclizations, nucleophilic phosphite–urea cooperative catalysts have been designed.