One hundred years after the birth of Kurt Alder and seventy-five years after the discovery of his famous reaction, one of the most important and fascinating transformations in chemistry, research on that process continues to surprise, excite, delight, and inform the chemical community. This article is based on presentations given first at the University of Cologne, Germany (Kurt Alder lecture, 1992), then at the Roger Adams Award Symposium (1993), and later at the Burgenstock Conference of 2001, and describes research by our group on the development and understanding of enantioselective versions of the Diels-Alder reactions. The elements of this review include (1) development of new chiral Lewis acid catalysts for highly enantioselective (>25:1) [4+2] cycloadditions; (2) the fine mechanistic details and pre-transition-state assemblies of these reactions; (3) the fundamental understanding of catalytic activity and enantioselectivity for highly enantioselective Diels-Alder processes; and (4) applications to the synthesis of complex molecules. The range and power of the Diels-Alder reaction have steadily increased over seven decades. The end of this remarkable development is not in sight, a high compliment to this field of Science and to its great inventor.

Catalytic enantioselective Diels--Alder reactions: methods, mechanistic fundamentals, pathways, and applications.

Objective: To review the biochemistry and biological activities of leukotrienes, focusing on their role in the mediation of inflammatory diseases. Data Sources: MEDLINE (1966-1994), EMBASE (Excerpt...

The Role of Leukotrienes in Inflammation

Local Effects of Synthetic Leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4, and LTB4) in Human Skin

Recent advances in the preparation and synthetic applications of oxiranes

Studies with trialkylsilyltriflates: new syntheses and applications

A Stereocontrolled and effective synthesis of leukotriene B (1).

Total synthesis of gibberellic acid. A simple synthesis of a key intermediate

Irreversible inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene biosynthesis from arachidonic acid by 11,12-dehydro- and 5,6-dehydroarachidonic acids, respectively

John E. Munroe

Papers

A Stereocontrolled and effective synthesis of leukotriene B (1).

Total synthesis of gibberellic acid. A simple synthesis of a key intermediate

Irreversible inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene biosynthesis from arachidonic acid by 11,12-dehydro- and 5,6-dehydroarachidonic acids, respectively

Total Synthesis of 6-Trans, 10-cis and (plus or minus) -6-Trans,8-cis Isomers of Leukotriene B