Chiral ligands containing heteroatoms. 8. 2-[(2s)-2-pyrrolidinyl]pyridine as a novel catalyst in the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

Abstract

The title compound has been demonstrated to be an effective enantioselective catalyst in the addition of diethyizinc to aldehydes: optically active secondary alcohols in up to 100% ee were obtained in high yields. The temperature dependence of the stercodynamic course of the reaction was examined and the nature of the possible catalytic complex was discussed on the basis of NMR data too.