Chiral phosphoric acid has received increasing attention as a highly efficient and enantioselective catalyst. Chiral phosphoric acid with 1,1 -binaphthyl (BINOL) unit has been applied to asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of imines, enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction, and asymmetric Mannich reaction etc. Chiral phosphoric acid can act as both proton donor and proton acceptor simultaneously, therefore, it is able to activate both substrates. Both hindrance and pK_a of chiral phosphoric acid with BINOL unit can be adjusted by changing the 3,3 -substituents. So the enantioselectivity of chiral phosphoric acid can be modified. More investigations, especially in computational chemistry, on the reaction mechanism catalyzed by chiral phosphoric acid have been carried out to design new chiral phosphoric acid and extend its applications. The applications of chiral phosphoric acid to asymmetric reactions are reviewed, involving the latest computational results.

Key words: Chiral phosphoric acid, asymmetric reaction, enantioselectivity, reaction mechanism