Substrate selectivity is an important output function for the validation of different enzyme models, catalytic cavity compounds, and reaction mechanisms as demonstrated in this review. In contrast to stereo-, regio-, and chemoselective catalysis, the field of substrate-selective catalysis is under-researched and has to date generated only a few, but important, industrial applications. This review points out the broad spectrum of different reaction types that have been investigated in substrate-selective catalysis. The present review is the first one covering substrate-selective catalysis and deals with reactions in which the substrates involved have the same reacting functionality and the catalysts is used in catalytic or in stoichiometric amounts. The review covers real substrate-selective catalysis, thus only including cases in which substrate-selective catalysis has been observed in competition between substrates.

Taking advantage of the unconventional reactivity of twisted mono- and bis-amides of Tröger's base (TB), rac-6 and rac-7, respectively, the first synthesis of a 6-endo-monosubstituted TB analogue, rac-9, and the first rational synthesis of a 6,12-endo,endo-disubstituted TB analogue, rac-11, have been achieved. The bis-TB crown ether, meso-13, was prepared starting from rac-7. Meso-13 constitutes a rare example of a crown ether with an inverted methylene bridge-to-bridge bis-TB conformation both in solution and in the solid state, resulting in a reluctance to act as a receptor for cations.

The synthesis of two conformationally restricted Cr(III) salen complexes, 2 and 3, is described. Together, they constitute a supramolecular hydrogen‐bonding catalytic system for the recently reported asymmetric ring‐opening reactions of epoxides by a dynamic supramolecular catalyst. The synthesis involves state‐of‐the art transformations in frontline synthetic chemistry applied to heterocyclic chemistry. Hence, palladium‐catalyzed reactions were employed, including carbonylative annelation and Suzuki cross‐coupling reactions, for the formation of one of the heterocyclic rings (quinolone) and the functionalization of the formed rings. For the construction of the second heterocyclic ring (isoquinolone), a Curtius rearrangement was employed. The corresponding salen ligands were then prepared by Schiff‐base reactions, yielding the final complexes after metal insertion. For reference purposes the less conformationally restricted Cr(III) complexes 4 and 5 were also synthesized.