A general enantioselective synthesis of α-arylethylamines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(91)80469-M

Optically active α-arylethylamines were prepared starting from acetophenones in ≥95%ee and ≥70% overall yield using oxazaborolidine catalyzed enantioselective reduction followed by the displacement of the hydroxy group by an azide group with clean inversion under Mitsunobu reaction conditions.