Overview on the Recent Strategies for the Enantioselective Synthesis of 1, 1‐Diarylalkanes, Triarylmethanes and Related Molecules Containing the Diarylmethine Stereocenter

There has recently been an increased interest in active pharmaceutical agents and various other molecules that contain the 1, 1‐diaryl stereocenter. This has led to the development of novel synthetic strategies to access molecules having this structural moiety. The current Review describes the variety of synthetic methodologies available for the enantioselective synthesis of 1, 1‐diarylethanes, triarylmethanes and related molecules with a 1, 1‐diaryl stereogenic center that were reported since 1995. The prime focus of the Review is on the formation of the 1, 1‐diarylmethine stereocenter either through the use of various enantioselective processes using chiral catalysts (the asymmetric catalytic approach) or through the use of chiral substrates and achiral catalysts. Resolution of racemic substrates is also required for the synthesis of this chiral molecule, but this approach is not covered in this Review. Moreover, comparative discussions on the future aspects of the synthesis of these molecules with a short comparison of the different available routes and possible areas of development are also presented.