Asymmetric reduction of enantiopure imines with zinc borohydride: stereoselective synthesis of chiral amines

The first application of zinc borohydride in the reduction of enantiopure imines for the stereoselective preparation of both the enantiomers of secondary amines is described. A possible explanation of the stereoselectivity and of the reaction mechanism is suggested on the basis of theoretical calculations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.