1,1′-Bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) has been extensively
used as
the chirality source in the fields of molecular recognition, asymmetric
synthesis, and materials science. The direct electrophilic substitution
at the aromatic rings of the optically active BINOL has been developed
as one of the most convenient strategies to structurally modify BINOL
for diverse applications. High regioselectivity has been achieved
for the reaction of BINOL with electrophiles. Depending upon the reaction
conditions and substitution patterns, various functional groups can
be introduced to the specific positions, such as the 6-, 5-, 4-, and
3-positions, of BINOL. Ortho-lithiation at the 3-position directed
by the functional groups at the 2-position of BINOL have been extensively
used to prepare the 3- and 3,3′-substituted BINOLs. The use
of transition metal-catalyzed C–H activation has also been
explored to functionalize BINOL at the 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-positions.
These regioselective substitutions of BINOL have allowed the construction
of tremendous amount of BINOL derivatives with fascinating structures
and properties as reviewed in this article. Examples for the applications
of the optically active BINOLs with varying substitutions in asymmetric
catalysis, molecular recognition, chiral sensing and materials are
also provided.