Asymmetric reduction of aromatic ketones with reagents prepared from sodium borohydride and various carboxylic acids in the presence of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-<scp>D</scp>-glucofuranose

Abstract

Asymmetric reduction of aromatic ketones with the reagents prepared from sodium borohydride and carboxylic acids in the presence of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose at 0 °C gives (R)-alcohols with enantiomeric excesses as high as 83%. The optimum conditions for producing maximum selectivity and maximum yield of reaction products from sodium borohydride and isobutyric acid have been examined.