Asymmetric autocatalysis is a reaction in which chiral compound acts as a chiral catalyst for its own production. The process is a catalytic automultiplication of the chiral compound leading to an end product with a high enantiomeric excess. It has advantages over non-autocatalytic reactions because the amount of catalyst increases and no loss or deterioration of the catalyst is observed. Additionally, because the catalyst and product have the same structure, the separation of product from the catalyst is not necessary.
Asymmetric Autocatalysis provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic of autocatalysis and an in-depth review of the current state of the research. Edited by a team including Professor Kenso Soai, who first described these types of reaction, and written by experts from around the world this book is a great resource for anyone with an interest in organic synthesis, catalysis and chirality.
Kenso Soai obtained his Ph.D. degree from the University of Tokyo with Teruaki Mukaiyama. He was a research associate with Ernest. L. Eliel at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He joined the faculty of Tokyo University of Science in 1981. He has been a Full Professor since 1991. His research interests include asymmetric autocatalysis, origin of homochirality, asymmetric catalysis. The first asymmetric autocatalysis of pyridyl alkanol was found in his group in 1990. Asymmetric autocatalysis of pyrimidyl alkanol with amplification of ee was reported in 1995. Since 2003, the reaction has been called as the Soai reaction. Among his awards include Molecular Chirality Award 2002, Merit of Science and Technology 2002 of Tokyo Metropolitan, Synthetic Organic Chemistry Award 2003, Chirality Medal 2005, Science and Technology Prize by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 2007, The Chemical Society of Japan Award for 2010, Medal with Purple Ribbon 2012 by the Emperor of Japan, and Toray Science and Technology Award 2017.
Tsuneomi Kawasaki received a Ph.D. degree in 2004 from the University of Tokyo with Takeshi Kitahara. He then joined the group of Kenso Soai at Tokyo University of Science as Assistant Professor. In 2012, he was promoted to Associate Professor at the University of Fukui. In 2017, he returned to Tokyo University of Science as Associate Professor and established his independent research group. His research includes asymmetric autocatalysis, origins of homochirality and asymmetric synthesis. He has been awarded the Chemical Society of Japan Award for Young Chemists and The Young Scientists’ Award of The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Arimasa Matsumoto is currently Assistant Professor at Nara Women’s University. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 2012 from the University of Tokyo under the direction of Eiichi Nakamura and then joined Kenso Soai’s group at Tokyo University of Science as Assistant Professor. He moved to Nara Women’s University in 2017. His research includes asymmetric autocatalysis and origin of homochirality. He was awarded Springer Thesis Prize, Wako Award in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan.
