Bicyclic diols and related derivatives as catalysts for the asymmetric diethylzinc addition to benzaldehyde

Chiral bicyclic diols based on bicyclo[2.2.2]octane and bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane have been synthesized and their catalytic capacity in the asymmetric diethylzinc addition to benzaldehyde compared with those described for previously synthesized 2,6-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-diols (BODOLs). The influence of the number of coordinating sites and the distance between them were studied. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.