Frontispiece: Regiodivergent Catalysis: A Powerful Tool for Selective Catalysis

Graphical Abstract

The Power of Regioselectivity A new concept for efficient access to structural and functional diversity is described. Regiodivergent catalysis provides attractive branching points for diversity oriented synthesis, highly efficient transformations for target oriented synthesis, and parallel resolutions. They key to the success of the approach is the highly regioselective catalyst-controlled formation of products from one substrate that are constitutional isomers. Examples for the concept of regiodivergent catalysis are discussed on a mechanistic basis. They include Diels–Alder reactions, C−H activation, the opening of heterocycles, and the functionalization of polyols. For more details, see the Minireview by A. Gansäuer et al. on page 19 ff.