Asymmetric oxazaborolidine-catalyzed reduction of prochiral ketones with N-tert-butyl-N-trimethylsilylamine-borane

Employing N-tert-butyl-N-trimethylsilylamine-borane (1) as the borane source and 5-10% (R)-Me-CBS (2), the oxazaborolidine-catalyzed reduction of representative aryl and aliphatic ketones was carried Out obtaining the corresponding alcohols (3) in 83-89% isolated yields and 69-98% ee. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.