Design, synthesis, and application of novel chiral ONN ligands for asymmetric alkylation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/s00706-012-0900-8

Starting from easily available chiral pool amino alcohols, a set of novel chiral ONN ligands was synthesized and their catalytic potential was examined in asymmetric alkylation. Ligands with a secondary central NH group and N-methylated ONN ligands were successfully applied as catalysts in the addition of diethyl zinc to various aromatic aldehydes, yielding secondary alcohols in excellent yields of up to 99 % ee.