Book excerpt: This book covers advances in the methods of catalytic asymmetric synthesis and their applications. Coverage moves from new materials and technologies to homogeneous metal-free catalysts and homogeneous metal catalysts. The applications of several methodologies for the synthesis of biologically active molecules are discussed. Part I addresses recent advances in new materials and technologies such as supported catalysts, supports, self-supported catalysts, chiral ionic liquids, supercritical fluids, flow reactors and microwaves related to asymmetric catalysis. Part II covers advances and milestones in organocatalytic, enzymatic and metal-based mediated asymmetric synthesis, including applications for the synthesis of biologically active molecules. Written by leading international experts, this book consists of 16 chapters with 2000 References and illustrations of 560 schemes and figures.