Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by 14-hydroxylsubstituted morphinans

Enantioselective addition reactions of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes were performed with catalytic amounts of 14-hydroxylsubstituted Morphine alkaloids. The reaction conditions such as catalyst loading, time and temperature were optimized to obtain the highest enantiomeric excess. Optically active secondary alcohols were synthesized with ee up to 95%. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.