Catalytic atropo-enantioselective reduction of biaryl lactones to axially chiral biaryl compounds

The atropo-enantioselective borohydride reduction with dynamic kinetic resolution of biaryl lactones was catalyzed by an optically active beta-ketoiminatocobalt(II) complex to afford optically active biaryl compounds. Chiral HPLC analysis of the starting biaryl lactones was performed at various temperatures to determine suitable reaction conditions for dynamic kinetic resolution. Various types of axially chiral biaryl compounds were obtained with high enantioselectivity.