Chiral organozinc species for use in asymmetric reactions

摘要

An organozinc species, useful in the reactions of aldehydes and ketones, is a reaction product of a) a biphenyl compound having one or more hindered 2,2'-substituted biphenyl subunits and b) an organozinc compound, such as diethylzinc. The organozinc species catalyzes the reduction of a ketone by a borane, as well as the epoxidation of alpha , beta -unsaturated compounds by an oxidizing agent, such as O2 or an alkyl hydroperoxide. The biphenyl compound may be chiral and may catalyze the formation of optically active reaction products.