Application of N,S-Chelating chiral Zinc bis(Arenthiolate) Complexes as New Precursor Catalysts in the Enantioselective Addition of diethylzinc to Aldehydes

Abstract

The addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes in the presence of a catalytic amount of enantiomerically pure N, S-chelated bis{2-[(R)-1-(dimethylamino)ethyl]phenylthiolato}zinc, afforded the corresponding secondary alcohols in nearly quantitative yields with optical purities of up to 99 % e.e. under mild reaction conditions.