Organocatalystenabled

Organocatalystenabled (often written organocatalyst-enabled or organocatalysis-enabled) describes chemical reactions, synthetic methods, or transformations made possible or significantly improved by the use of small organic molecule catalysts. These nonmetal catalysts, typically composed of common elements such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorus, promote bond formation and breaking through mechanisms including enamine and iminium activation, hydrogen bonding, Brønsted acid/base catalysis, and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis.

The term is used in literature to emphasize innovations attributed to organocatalysts, such as metal-free asymmetric synthesis, mild reaction conditions, and enhanced functional-group compatibility. Classic examples include proline-catalyzed aldol reactions, MacMillan imidazolidinone-catalyzed enantioselective Diels–Alder and Michael reactions, and NHC-catalyzed benzoin and Stetter reactions. Organocatalyst-enabled approaches have been integrated into dual catalytic systems, notably with photoredox catalysts, and applied across pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and material synthesis.

Advantages of organocatalyst-enabled methods include reduced reliance on transition metals, lower toxicity, and accessible catalyst structures. Limitations can include lower turnover numbers for some catalysts, sensitivity to reaction conditions, and narrower substrate scope in certain transformations. Ongoing research focuses on designing more active, selective, and sustainable organocatalysts and expanding their utility through cooperative and multicomponent catalytic strategies.