In 2001, William S. Knowles, Ryoji Noyori and K. Barry Sharpless received the
Nobel Prize for their achievement in the field of asymmetric catalysis. Noyori and Knowles
contributed to the development of catalytic asymmetric hydrogenations and Sharpless was
awarded for the development of catalytic asymmetric oxidations.
The great success of this reaction lies in its predictability: intensive studies from the past now
allow the stereochemical outcome of the reaction to be determined prior to carrying out. This
is also the main advantage of the asymmetric, osmium / cinchona alkaloids catalyzed
dihydroxylation and aminohydroxylation of olefins…
