Oxazaborolidine-mediated asymmetric reduction of 1,2-diaryl-2- benzyloxyiminoethanones and 1,2-diarylethanediones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(98)00483-9

Highly enantioselective reduction of 1,2-diaryl-2- benzyloxyiminoethanones and 1,2-diarylethanediones was conducted using oxazaborolidine derived from L-threonine and borane complexes to give β- imino alcohols and 1,2-diaryl-1,2-ethanediols in high enantiomeric purity. Subsequent reduction of the imino functionality of the former products afforded either syn- or anti-2-amino-1,2-diarylethanols in high enantiomeric purity by choosing appropriate reduction methods.