Asymmetric diethylzinc addition and phenyl transfer to aldehydes using chiral cis-cyclopropane-based amino alcohols

A new series of amino alcohols with a chiral cyclopropane backbone have been developed and used in the catalytic asymmetric diethylzinc addition and phenyl transfer to various types of aldehydes. These cyclopropane-based chiral amino alcohols show high enantioselectivity in the addition of organozincs to aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. For diethylzinc addition to aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes, up to 97% ee and 93% ee are obtained, respectively. For the phenyl transfer to aromatic aldehydes, the best enantio selectivity was 89% ee. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.