Inventing and understanding catalytic, enantioselective reactions.

This review summarizes recent advances in the development of efficient routes based on enantioselective catalysis for the synthesis of optically active therapeutic agents. Particular emphasis is placed on research that has streamlined the large-scale production of therapeutics for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Progress in the catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation and amination of unprotected substrates has enabled the establishment of concise synthetic routes for the production of the potent dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor sitagliptin, and the aldose reductase inhibitor ranirestat (Dainippon Sumimoto Pharma Co Ltd/Eisai Co Ltd/ Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co Ltd), both of which have attracted particular attention for their potential to treat T2DM and diabetic complications, respectively.