Asymmetric reduction of ketones with sodium aluminum hydride modified by various chiral diols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF02494775

New stereoselective reducing reagents were prepared in situ by modification of NaAlH₄ with various chiral diols. The efficiency of 1,4- and 1,3-diols as chiral auxiliaries in the reactions of alkyl aryl ketones with modified NaAlH₄ was considerably higher than that of 1,2-diols. The effect of the nature of the achiral ligand additionally introduced into the chiral hydride reagent on the enantioselectivity of ketone reduction was studied. It was proposed that the sodium cation does not necessarily participate at the stage governing the reaction stereochemistry.