New ligands for the titanium(IV)-induced asymmetric reduction of ketones with catecholborane

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.199703761

High to moderate enantiomeric excesses were achieved for the reduction of ketones with catecholborane in the presence of a titanium-based catalyst bearing the new optically active diols 1 a or 1 b as ligands. Of particular interest is the relatively high enantiomeric excess obtained in the reductions of linear nonaromatic methyl ketones.