Organocatalysis is a dynamic, young field that is rapidly gaining significance for economical and environmentally friendly organic synthesis, both in academia and in industry.

Although several books and numerous review articles have been published in the field, an authoritative, broad overview of the state of the art is still needed. The two-volume set on Asymmetric Organocatalysis in the Science of Synthesis Reference Library fills that gap. A major global challenge to chemistry in the 21st Century is the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly methods for the preparation of chiral compounds. Chiral organic molecules are essential for modern medicine and in many other areas that serve the basis for our welfare. Organocatalysis is paving the way for greener synthesis with simple and easily used catalysts, which avoid the use of expensive and/or toxic metals. Typical or general experimental procedures are included, which has been a highly successful feature of Science of Synthesis. This allows the reader to clearly see how simple, clean and efficient this chemistry is, which are important criteria for application both in academic and industrial environments.