title: Direct catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective aldol reaction using a Zn-Zn-linked-BINOL complex: a practical synthesis of syn-1,2-diols.
abstract: [reaction: see text] The direct catalytic enantio- and diastereoselective aldol reaction with 2-hydroxy-2'-methoxyacetophenone proceeded smoothly using as little as 1 mol % of a dinuclear zinc catalyst, Zn-Zn-linked-BINOL complex 2, to afford alpha,beta-dihydroxy ketones in a highly syn-selective manner (up to syn/anti 97/3) and in excellent yields (up to 95%) and ees (up to 99%). Efficient transformations of the alpha,beta-dihydroxy ketone into an alpha,beta-dihydroxy ester and an alpha,beta-dihydroxy amide via regioselective rearrangements are also described.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohshima
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibasaki