Using physical organic parameters to correlate asymmetric catalyst performance.

A classic strategy of physical organic chemists is to probe reaction mechanisms using linear free energy relationships. Identifying such relationships in asymmetric catalytic reactions provides substantial insight into the key factors controlling enantioselectivity, which in turn increases the predictability and applicability of these reactions. The focus of this JOCSynopsis is to highlight several recent examples in which various parameters were identified and applied to the elucidation of LFERs.