关键词: 手性, 不对称催化, 有机催化, 氮中心手性, 翻转能垒

Abstract: Chirality describes the molecular property of being non-superimposable with its mirror image. As chiral compounds are widely distributed in nature and their enantiomers frequently display significantly distinct chemical properties, the highly selective synthesis of single-configuration enantiomers represents a fundamental challenge in synthetic chemistry. While synthetic methodologies for tetrahedral carboncentered chirality have become well-developed, the efficient and stereoselective construction of trigonal pyramidal stereocenters—particularly those featuring nitrogen as the chiral center—remains a frontier challenge in this field. Recent groundbreaking work by the Tan and List research groups has achieved highly enantioselective synthesis of pyramidal nitrogen-centered chiral structures. This review comprehensively summarizes recent progress in asymmetric organocatalysis for controlling such chirality, providing readers with updated knowledge of chemical frontiers, expanded academic perspectives, and enhanced capabilities for independent research on related scientific questions.

Key words: Chirality, Asymmetric catalysis, Organocatalysis, Nitrogen-centered chirality, Inversion barrier