Synthesis and applications of tartaric acid in asymmetric catalysis

This chapter presents recent advances in the synthesis and application of tartaric acid derivatives in asymmetric catalysis. Tartaric acid, a naturally occurring C₂-symmetric diol, serves as a versatile chiral pool compound for the preparation of diverse ligands and catalysts. Dimethyl (2R,3R)-tartrate and its modified derivatives are employed as key chiral building blocks in the development of enantioselective catalytic systems. Their functionalized forms have been utilized in a variety of asymmetric transformations, including aldol reactions, epoxidations, Diels–Alder reactions, and hydrogenations. Structural modifications at the carboxylic acid and hydroxyl positions of tartaric acid have led to highly selective chiral auxiliaries, organocatalysts, and metal–ligand complexes. These derivatives offer efficient access to enantiomerically pure compounds and continue to play a critical role in modern stereoselective synthesis.