How Deep Eutectic Solvents are currently Shaping Organocatalytic and Enzymatic Asymmetric Catalysis

Abstract

Asymmetric catalysis is a key technology that provides enantiomerically pure compounds that are vital for the pharmaceutical, agrochemical and food and fragrance industries. It has been recently noticed that asymmetric catalysis can be successfully conducted in sustainable systems known as Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) or natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) when biobased materials are used. This paper provides a critical perspective on these systems, exploring their limitations and relevance for the production and development of new pharmaceuticals and other high-value-added substances. It also looks like very recent developments in this area, whereby the actual DES can act as the catalyst, the reactant and be part of a supramolecular construct, known as a EutectoGel that enhances the sustainability of the process.