Zinc triflate-bis-oxazoline complexes as chiral catalysts:: enantioselective reduction of α-alkoxy-ketones with catecholborane

A new methodology for the catalytic enantioselective reduction of oc-alkoxy-ketones is described. The procedure employes Zn(OTf)(2)-bis-oxazoline complexes (8-10 mol%) as catalysts and catecholborane as the reducing agent. The reaction, carried out in CH2Cl2 at 0 degrees C, affords the alpha-alkoxy-alcohols in high yields and with good enantioselectivity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.