Enantioselective Ethylation of Various Aldehydes Catalyzed by Readily Accessible Chiral Diols

Four chiral C-2-symmetric diols were synthesized in a straightforward three-step reaction and demonstrated excellent enantioselectivities and good overall yields. Their catalytic activities were examined via the addition of diethylzinc to various aldehydes. The enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to 2-methoxybenzaldehyde gave the corresponding chiral secondary alcohol with high yields (up to 95%) and moderate to good enantiomeric excess (up to 88%). All synthesized ligands were evaluated in the addition of diethylzinc to various aldehydes in the presence of an additional metal such as Ti(IV) complexes. Chirality 28:593-598, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.