Asymmetric organometallic and organocatalytic processes have attracted great interest. Asymmetric synthesis using both natural and unnatural amino acids has been tremendously important from synthetic as well as industrial viewpoints, and numerous new methodologies have been developed in the last decades. Herein we provide an overview of old and very recent (since 1900 till now) advances and applications in the area of heterogeneous catalysis, homogeneous catalysis, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, organocatalysis, thermal catalysis using amino acids [proline, glycine, alanine, valine, serine, threonine, cysteine, methionine, asparagine, glutamine, lysine, arginine, histidine, aspartate, glutamate, phenylalanine, and tryptophan], (supported or unsupported), an amino acid containing materials or amino acids derivatives as an essential component of catalysts, this book highlights the most important and recent developments to immobilize or support amino acids on various support materials. This book is suitable as supplementary reading for courses targeting the design, synthesis, and application of chiral catalysts, asymmetric catalysis, and sustainable production.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Amino Acids

2. The Catalytic Role of L-Arginine in Organic Reactions

3. The Catalytic Role of L-Cysteine in Organic Reactions

4. The Catalytic Role of L-Glycine in Organic Reactions

5. The Catalytic Role of L-Proline in Organic Reactions

6. The Catalytic Role of L-Serine, L-Asparagine, L-Tryptophan, L-Pheny lalanine, and L-Methio nine in Organic Reactions

7. The Catalytic Role of L-Aspartic Acid, L-Lysine, Glutamate, L-Alanine, and L-Valine in Organic Reactions

8. The Catalytic Role of L-Histidine and L-Threonine in Organic Reactions

About the Authors

Zahra Taherinia finished her BS studies in pure chemistry at Ilam University (2012) received her MSc in organic chemistry (2014), and subsequently began her PhD studies in organic chemistry at the same university. She finished her PhD program at Ilam University in 2019. She conducted postdoctoral studies at Ilam University in the laboratory of Prof. Arash Ghorbani-Choghamarani.

Arash Ghorbani-Choghamarani finished his BS studies in applied chemistry at Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran (2001), received his MSc in organic chemistry (2003), and subsequently began his PhD studies in organic chemistry at the same university. During his PhD program, he completed a sabbatical fellowship at The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada (from September 2005 to September 2006). He obtained his PhD degree in 2007. He then joined the Department of Chemistry at Ilam University, Ilam, Iran, as a faculty member from September 10, 2007, until September 2020. He was a Visiting Professor at The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada from March 2018 until October 2018. He has been a faculty member at Bu-Ali Sina University since September 2020. He is currently a Professor of Organic Chemistry.

Zahra Moradi finished her B.S. studies in pure chemistry at Ilam University, (2016) and received her M.Sc. in organic chemistry (2018), and subsequently began her Ph.D. studies in organic chemistry at the same university. She finished her PhD program at Ilam University in 2022.

Zahra Heidarnezhad finished her B.S. studies in pure chemistry at Ilam University, (2017) received her M.Sc. in organic chemistry (2019), and subsequently began her Ph.D. studies in organic chemistry at the same university. She finished her PhD program at Ilam University in 2023.

Farhad Khanmohammadi-Sarabi finished his B.S. studies in applied chemistry at Razi University, Kermanshah, (2019) and received his M.Sc. in organic chemistry (2021) at Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, and subsequently began his Ph.D. studies in organic chemistry at the same university.

Mohammad Ali Zolfigol finished his B.Sc. at Arak University, M.Sc. at the Isfahan University of Technology under the supervision of Prof. Shadpour Mallakpour, and his Ph.D. from Shiraz University with Prof. Nasser Iranpoor and Prof. Habib Frouzabadi as supervisor and advisor, respectively. Zolfigol has been a Bu-Ali Sina University faculty member since 1997 and was promoted to Professor Degree in 2005.