Efficient preparation of C2-symmetrical chiral ferrocenyl diols by catalytic enantioselective reduction of diacylferrocenes

Enantioselective borohydride reduction, catalyed by the optically active beta-ketoiminato cobalt(II) complex, was successfully applied to the 1,1'-dialkanoyl- and 1,1'-dibenzoylferrocenes to afford the corresponding C-2-symmetrical chiral ferrocenyl diols with high diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity.