Asymmetric syntheses and transformations--tools for chirality multiplication in drug synthesis.

A review of currently used methods for the synthesis and resolution of enantiomers of drugs and their precursors is presented. For the synthesis part the methods of diastereoselective as well as enantioselective synthesis are discussed, with particular consideration given to enantioselective catalysis with either metal complexes or biocatalysts. Desymmetrization processes are also included as methods to access enantiomerically pure compounds. Racemate resolution still remains an important method to obtain pure enantiomers and methods involving kinetic resolution in enzymatic or chemical systems, and particularly in connection with racemization (dynamic kinetic resolution) are on the rise in fine chemical industry, when applicable.