(2S)-2-Anilinomethylpyrrolidine:: an efficient in situ recyclable chiral catalytic source for the borane-mediated asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones in refluxing toluene

(2S)-2-Anilinomethylpyrrolidine was successfully utilized as a chiral catalytic source in the borane-mediated asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones in refluxing toluene to provide the corresponding secondary alcohols with enantionteric excesses up to 91%. The potential of (2S)-2-anilinomethylpyrrolidine as an in situ recyclable chiral catalytic source in the borane-mediated chiral reduction processes has also been demonstrated. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.