Enantioselective acylation of 1,2- and 1,3-diols catalyzed by aminophosphinite derivatives of (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-indanol

A phosphinite derivative that can be easily prepared in two steps from commercially available aminoindanol was found to be an effective catalyst for enantioselective acylation of diols. For the asymmetric desymmetrization of meso-1,2-diols, the corresponding monoester was obtained in up to 95% ee from the reaction in the presence of 5 mol % catalyst.