Synthesis and Reactions of the Novel 6‐ethyl‐4‐hydroxy‐2,5‐dioxo‐5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrano[3,2‐c]quinoline‐3‐carboxaldehyde

The novel 6‐ethyl‐4‐hydroxy‐2,5‐dioxo‐5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrano[3,2‐c]quinoline‐3‐carboxaldehyde ( 2 ) was efficiently synthesized from Vilsmeier–Haack formylation of 3‐(1‐ethy1‐4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐(1H)‐quinolin‐3‐yl)‐3‐oxopropanoic acid ( 1 ). The aldehyde 2 was allowed to react with some nitrogen nucleophiles producing a variety of hydrazones 3 – 7 . Reaction of aldehyde 2 with hydrazine hydrate and hydroxylamine hydrochloride afforded pyrazole and isoxazole annulated pyrano[3,2‐c]quinoline‐2,5(6H)‐dione, respectively. The reactivity of aldehyde 2 was examined toward some active methylene nitrile, namely, malononitrile, ethyl cyanoacetate, and cyanoacetamide leading to 2‐iminopyrano[2′,3′:4,5]pyrano[3,2‐c]quinolines 10 – 12 , respectively. Also, some novel pyrazolo[4″,3″:5′,6′]pyrano[2′,3′:4,5]pyrano[3,2‐c]quinolines ( 13 , 14 ) and thiazolo[5″,4″:5′,6′]pyrano[2′,3′:4,5]pyrano[3,2‐c]quinolines ( 15 , 16 ) were synthesized. Structures of the new synthesized products were deduced on the basis of their analytical and spectral data.     

Cyclobutanoid Amides from Piper arborescens

Two new cyclobutanoid amides, piperarborenine A (=1,1′‐{[(1α,2α,3β,4β)‐2,4‐bis(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)cyclobutane‐1,3‐diyl]dicarbonyl}bis[5,6‐dihydropyridin‐2(1H)‐one]; 1 ) and piperarborenine B (=1,1′‐{[(1α,2α,3β,4β)‐2‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)cyclobutane‐1,3‐diyl]dicarbonyl}bis[5,6‐dihydropyridin‐2(1H)‐one]; 2 ) were isolated from the stem of Piper arborescens, besides two known cyclobutanoid amides, piperarboresine (=1,1′‐{[(1α,2α,3β,4β)‐2‐(7‐methoxy‐1,3‐benzodioxol‐5‐yl)‐4‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)cyclobutane‐1,3‐diyl]dicarbonyl}bis[5,6‐dihydropyridin‐2(1H)‐one]; 3 ) and piplartine‐dimer A (=1,1′‐{[(1α,2α,3β,4β)‐2,4‐bis(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)cyclobutane‐1,3‐diyl]dicarbonyl}bis[5,6‐dihydropyridin‐2(1H)‐one]; 4 ). The structures of the two new compounds were determined by spectral analyses.     

Cytotoxic Activity of Capnellene‐8β, 10α‐Diol Derivatives from a Taiwanese Soft Coral Capnella sp.

The sesquiterpene capnellene‐8β, 10α‐diol ( 1 ) was isolated from non‐polar extract of the soft coral Capnella sp. Ten acylation products of capnellene‐8β, 10α‐diol were prepared: 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐benzoylcapnellene ( 2 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐p‐toluoylcapnellene ( 3 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐chlorobenzoyl‐capnellene ( 4 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐2‐furoylcapnellene ( 5 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐2‐thiophenoylcapnellene ( 6 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐fluorobenzoylcapnellene ( 7 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐propylbenzoylcapnellene ( 8 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐cinnamoylcapnellene ( 9 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐nitrobenzoylcapnellene ( 10 ), and 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐anisoylcapnellene ( 11 ). The structures of capnellene‐8β, 10α‐diol as well as its derivatives were established through standard spectroscopic analysis. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the eleven compounds were evaluated against Hela, KB, Daoy, and WiDr human tumor cell lines.     

Thrombin Inhibitory Constituents from Duranta repens

The C‐alkylated flavonoids 3,7,4′‐trihydroxy‐3′‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbutyl)‐5,6‐dimethoxyflavone ( 1 ), 3,7‐dihydroxy‐3′‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbutyl)‐5,6,4′‐trimethoxyflavone ( 2 ) and the trans‐clerodane diterpenoids 6β‐hydroxy‐15,16‐epoxy‐5β,8β,9β,10α‐cleroda‐3,13(16),14‐trien‐18‐oic acid ( 3 ) and 2β‐hydroxy‐15,16‐epoxy‐5β,8β,9β,10α‐cleroda‐3,13(16),14‐trien‐18‐oic acid ( 4 ) were isolated from Duranta repens. Their structures and the relative configuration of 3 and 4 were determined by spectroscopic methods (¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, IR, and MS) and 2D‐NMR experiments. The known flavonoid 5 is also reported for the first time from this species. The compounds 1 , 3 , and 5 showed significant enzyme‐inhibitory activity against thrombin.     

Synthesis anti‐fungal and anti‐bacterial screening of 3‐phenyl‐1,4,5‐trihydro‐pyrazol and 2, 4‐dihydro[ 1,2,4]‐triazol‐3‐one derivatives of 4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran

4‐Hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐carboxaldehydes 2a‐d are prepared from 4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyrans 1a‐d via the Vielsmeyer Haack reaction. The 4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐3‐(3′oxo‐3′‐phenylprop‐1′‐enyl)‐2H‐1‐benzopyrans 3a‐d are obtained from 2a‐d via the Claisen reaction. Refluxing compounds 3a‐d with hydrazine hydrate gave the 3‐phenyl‐5‐(4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐yl)‐1,4,5‐trihydropyra‐zols 4a‐d . Stirring compounds 2a‐d with semicarbazide hydrochloride in acidic medium gave the 4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐aldehyde‐semicarbazone 5a‐d , which on cyclisation with ferric chloride hexahydrate gave the 5‐(4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐yl)‐2,4‐dihydro[1,2,4]triazol‐3‐ones 6a‐d . All these compounds show significant antibacterial activities.     

细枝岩黄芪根部中的三个新的异戊烯基呋喃异黄酮

岩黄芪属植物中的多序岩黄芪作为传统中药“红芪”有着广泛的药用价值,而同属的红花岩黄芪也报道具有良好的药用活性。我们对该属中的细枝岩黄芪根部的化学成份进行了研究,从中分离得到了三个新的异戊烯基呋喃异黄酮,分别为：5-羟基-7-(2-羟基异丙基)-4′-甲氧基-9-苯并呋喃[3,2-g]异黄酮(1),5-羟基-4′-甲氧基-9-苯并呋喃[3,2-g]异黄酮(2),5-羟基-7-(2-羟基异丙基)-4′-甲氧基-7-苯并呋喃[2,3-h]异黄酮(3),并对这三个新化合物的清除自由基能力进行了测试。     

First synthesis of novel pentaheterocyclic ring system of 1,2,4‐triazolo[2″,3″:6′,1′]pyrimido[4′,5′:2,3]pyrido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole

Reaction of 1‐amino‐3‐arylpyrido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole‐2,4‐dicarbonitrile (1) with dimethylformamide‐dimethylacetal (DMF‐DMA) gave 1 ‐[N,N‐(dimethylaminomethylene)amino]‐3‐arylpyrido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole‐2,4‐dicarbonitrile (2). Compounds (1) reacted with triethylorthoformate yielding 1‐[N‐(ethoxymethylene)amino]‐3‐arylpyrido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole‐2,4‐dicarbonitrile (3). 3‐Amino‐4‐imino‐5‐aryl‐6‐cyanopyrimido[5′,4′:5,6]pyrido[1,2‐α] benzimidazole (4) was synthesized via condensation of either (2) or (3) with hydrazine hydrate. Reactions of (4) with acetic anhydride, ethyl chloroformate or aryl isothiocyanate yielded the respective derivative of the new ring system namely 1,2,4‐triazolo[2″,3″:6′,1′]pyrimido[4′,5′:2,3]pyrido[1,2‐a]benzimidazole (5–7).     

New Prenylated Flavones from the Roots of Ficus Beecheyana

Two new prenylated flavanones, ficubee A and ficubee B, respectively, as 7,8‐(2,2‐dimethylpyrano)‐6‐prenyl‐5,3′,4′‐trihydroxyflavone and 6,7‐(2,2‐dimethylpyrano)‐8‐prenyl‐5,3′,4′‐trihydroxyflavone were isolated from the roots of Ficus beecheyana together with twelve known compounds: β‐sitosterol, 5‐stigmasten‐3β,7α‐diol, 5‐stigmasten‐3β,7β‐diol, 3β‐hydroxystigmast‐5‐en‐7‐one, 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzaldehyde, 1‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐ethanone, 4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzoic acid, 4‐hydroxy‐cinnamic acid, seseline, xanthyletin, and psoralene. The structures of these secondary metabolites were determined by spectroscopic means and in comparison with published data.     

Pakistolides A and B,Novel Enzyme Inhibitory and Antioxidant Dimeric 4‐(Glucosyloxy)Benzoates from Berchemia pakistanica

Pakistolides A and B, novel dimeric β‐(glucosyloxy)benzoates were isolated from Berchemia pakistanica and assigned structures 1 and 2 on the basis of extensive NMR studies. In addition, the known compounds 7,5′‐dimethoxy‐3,5,2′‐trihydroxyflavone (=3,5‐dihydroxy‐2‐(2‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxyphenyl)‐7‐methoxy‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), 4′,5‐dihydroxy‐3,6,7‐trimethoxyflavone (=5‐hydroxy‐2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3,6,7‐trimethoxy‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), 5,6‐dihydroxy‐4,7‐dimethoxy‐2‐methylanthracene‐9,10‐dione, and 1,3,4‐trihydroxy‐6,7,8‐trimethoxy‐2‐methylanthracene‐9,10‐dione were reported for the first time from the genus Berchemia. Both 1 and 2 showed significant α‐glucosidase and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities, while 2 also showed antioxidant potential.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Heterocyclic Compounds Containing Thienylbenzo[h]Quinoline Moiety

In this paper the reaction of 2‐(2′‐thienylmethylene)‐3,4‐dihydronaphthalen‐2(1H)‐one ( 1 ) with cyanothioacetamide gave a mixture of 3‐cyano‐5,6‐dihydro‐4‐(2′‐thienyl)‐benzo[h]quinolin‐2(1H)‐thione ( 2 ) and the related disulfide 3 . Compound 2 was reacted with some halo compounds namely; ethyl chloroacetate, chloroacetamide, chloro(N‐(p‐chlorophenyl))acetamide, N¹‐chloroacetylsulfanilamide, and 2‐chloromethyl‐1H‐benzimidazole to produce a series of 2‐(substituted)methylthio‐3‐cyano‐5,6‐dihydro‐4‐(2′‐thienyl)benzo[h]quinolines 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e and 11 . Upon heating the latter compounds with sodium ethoxide, they underwent intramolecular Thorpe–Zeigler cyclization to furnish the corresponding 2‐(substituted)‐3‐amino‐5,6‐dihydro‐4‐(2′‐thienyl)‐benzo[h]thieno[2,3‐b]quinolines 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e and 12 . (3‐Cyano‐5,6‐dihydro‐4‐(2′‐thienyl)‐benzo[h]quinolin‐2‐ylthio)acethydrazide ( 8 ) and the related isomer, 3‐amino‐5,6‐dihydro‐4‐(2′‐thienyl)thieno[2,3‐b]benzo[h]quinoline‐2‐carbohydrazide ( 9 ), were also synthesized. Most of the aforementioned compounds were used as key intermediates for synthesizing other benzo[h]quinolines, benzo[h]thieno[2,3‐b]quinolines as well as benzo[h]pyrimido[4′,5′:4,5] thieno[2,3‐b]quinolines. The structure of all synthesized compounds was confirmed by spectroscopic measurements and analytical analyses.     

Synthesis and Reactions of Pyrido[2,1‐a]isoquinolin‐4‐yl Formimidate Derivatives and Antimicrobial Activities of Isolated Products

Treatment of arylidene malononitriles 2A – C with 1‐cyanomethylisoquinoline 1 afforded 4‐amino‐2‐arylpyrido[2,1‐a ]isoquinoline‐1,3‐dicarbonitrile derivatives 5A – C , which converted to formimidates 6A – C via reaction with triethylorthoformate. Treatment of the latter compounds with hydrazine hydrate gave the corresponding amino–imino compounds 7A – C , which underwent Dimroth rearrangement to afford 13‐aryl‐1‐hydrazinylpyrimido[5′,4′:5,6]pyrido[2,1‐a ]isoquinoline‐12‐carbonitrile 8A – C . The latter reacted with aldehyde to give 9a – i . Oxidative cyclization of the latter compounds 9a – i gave [1,2,4]triazolo[4″,3″:1′,6′]‐pyrimido[5′,4′:5,6]pyrido[2,1‐a ]isoquinolines 10a , d , g . Such compounds isomerized to the thermodynamically more stable isomers [1,2,4]triazolo[1″,5″:1′,6′]pyrimido[5′,4′:5,6]‐pyrido[2,1‐a ]isoquinolines 11a , d , g . Antimicrobial activities for some compounds were studied.     

Terpenoids from the Flower of Cacalia Tangutica

A thorough investigation of Cacalia tangutica (Franch.) Hand‐Mazz afforded two new epimeric eremophilane sesquiterpenoids, 7β‐ H‐3α‐angeloyloxy‐9‐ene‐11,12‐epoxy‐8‐oxoeremophilane ( 1 ) and 7α‐H‐3α‐angeloyloxy‐9‐ene‐11,12‐epoxy‐8‐oxoeremophilane ( 2 ), as well as four known sesquiterpenes, petasol ( 3 ), oplopanone ( 4 ), 4,5‐epoxy‐β‐caryophyllene ( 5 ), 4(15)‐eudesmene‐1β,6α‐diol ( 6 ), and three known monoterpenes, 1β,2α‐dihydroxy‐p‐menth‐5‐ene ( 7 ), 5α‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐p‐menth‐6(1)‐ene ( 8 ), 5β‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐p‐menth‐6(1)‐ene ( 9 ), and two known triterpenes, maniladiol 3‐O‐palmitate ( 10 ), taraxasteryl palmitate ( 11 ). The new compounds were characterized by means of spectroscopic methods including 1D, 2D NMR and HRESIMS, and the known ones were established on the basis of comparing their NMR data with those of the corresponding compounds in the literature. In addition, cytotoxicity against selected cancer cells (HL‐60, HO‐8910 and A‐549) of compounds 1 ‐ 4 , 6 , 7 , 10 were measured in vitro.     

Sterols from the Stems of Momordica charantia

A new sterol, 5α,6α‐epoxy‐3β‐hydroxy‐(22E,24R)‐ergosta‐8,22‐dien‐7‐one ( 1 ), together with eight known sterols, 5α,6α‐epoxy‐(22E,24R)‐ergosta‐8,22‐diene‐3β,7α‐diol ( 2 ), 5α,6α‐epoxy‐(22E,24R)‐ergosta‐8,22‐diene‐3β,7β‐diol ( 3 ), 5α,6α‐epoxy‐(22E,24R)‐ergosta‐8(14),22‐diene‐3β,7α‐diol ( 4 ), 3β‐hydroxy‐(22E,24R)‐ergosta‐5,8,22‐trien‐7‐one ( 5 ), ergosterol peroxide ( 6 ), clerosterol ( 7 ), decortinol ( 8 ), and decortinone ( 9 ), were isolated from the stems of Momordica charantia. Their structures were elucidated by mean of extensive spectroscopic methods, including ¹H, ¹³C, 2D‐NMR and HR‐EI‐MS, as well as comparison with the literature data. Compounds 1 , 4 , 5 , 8 , and 91 were not cytotoxic against the SK‐Hep 1 cell line.     

Solid‐State Photodimerization of 1,2‐Bis(5′‐pyrimidyl)ethene

The photodimerization of 1,2‐bis(5′‐pyrimidyl)ethene in the solid state is reported. Photolysis of the crystalline solid formed on self‐assembly of 1,2‐bis(5′‐pyrimidyl)ethene and C‐methylcalix[4]resorcinarene and photolysis of the solid recystallized from dichloromethane yielded cis‐anti‐cis‐1,2,3,4‐tetrakis(5′‐pyrimidyl)cyclobutane as the only product. Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis of each of these solids confirms that the alkenes are π‐stacked, colinear, and separated by less than 4.2 Å.     

Cochinchin from Dracaena cochinchinensis

A new compound, Cochinchin (1), together with 7,4‘-dihydroxyflavone (2), 7-hydroxy-4‘-methoxyflavane (3),7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)chroman (4), 4‘-hydroxy-2,4-dirnethoxydihydrochalcone (5) and 4‘-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethoxydihydrochalcone (6) was isolated from the resin (trivial name, “dragon‘s blood“) of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C. Chert. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data as (2,3-trans)-6-allyl-2-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[1,4]dioxin which is a natural product possessing a new framework.     

Hamigerin A and a hamigerin D decomposition product

The sponge Hamigera tarangaensis has yielded eight new compounds and we report here the structure of one of these compounds, hamigeran A, C₂₀H₂₅BrO₅, or methyl 7‐bromo‐4β,6‐di­hydroxy‐1β‐iso­propyl‐3aα,8‐di­methyl‐5‐oxo‐1a,3a,4,5‐tetra­hydro­cyclo­penta­[a]­naphthalene‐4‐carboxyl­ate, and the decomposition product of hamigeran D, C₂₁H₂₈BrNO₄, namely 2‐(8‐bromo‐2β,7‐di­methyl‐4‐oxo‐1,3α‐benzox­aza­n‐5‐yl)‐3‐iso­propylcyclo­pentyl­acetic acid.     

Chemical Constituents from Annona Glabra

A new kaurane diterpenoid, annoglabasin G (16α‐hydro‐19‐acetoxy‐ent‐kauran‐17‐al) ( 1 ), along with 27 compounds including 18 kaurane diterpenoids, 16β‐hydro‐ent‐kauran‐17‐oic acid ( 2 ), 16α‐hydro‐ent‐kauran‐17‐oic acid ( 3 ), 19‐nor‐ent‐kauran‐4α‐ol‐17‐oic acid ( 4 ), 16α‐hydro‐19‐ol‐ent‐kauran‐17‐oic acid ( 5 ), ent‐kaur‐16‐en‐19‐oic acid ( 6 ), 16α‐hydroxy‐ent‐kauran‐19‐oic acid ( 7 ), 16α,17‐dihydroxy‐ent‐kauran‐19‐oic acid ( 8 ), 16β,17‐dihydroxy‐ent‐kauran‐19‐oic acid ( 9 ), 16α‐hydro‐ent‐kauran‐17,19‐dioic acid ( 10 ), 16β‐hydroxy‐17‐acetoxy‐ent‐kauran‐19‐oic acid ( 11 ), 16β‐hydro‐17‐hydroxy‐ent‐kauran‐19‐al ( 12 ), 16α‐hydro‐17‐hydroxy‐ent‐kauran‐19‐al ( 13 ), 16β,17‐dihydroxy‐ent‐kauran‐19‐al ( 14 ), 16α‐hydro‐19‐al‐ent‐kauran‐17‐oic acid ( 15 ), 16α‐hydro‐17‐acetoxy‐ent‐kauran‐19‐al ( 16 ), 16α‐hydro‐19‐acetoxy‐ent‐kauran‐17‐oic acid ( 17 ), ent‐kaur‐15‐en‐19‐oic acid ( 18 ) and ent‐kaur‐15‐en‐17‐ol‐19‐oic acid ( 19 ); four acetogenins, annomontacin ( 20 ), annonacin ( 21 ), isoannonacinone ( 22 ) and squamocin ( 23 ); four steroids, β‐sitosterol ( 24 ), stigmasterol ( 25 ), β‐sitosteryl‐D‐glucoside ( 26 ) and stigmasteryl‐D‐glucoside ( 27 ) and one oxoaporphine, liriodenine ( 28 ), were isolated from the fresh fruits of Annona glabra. These compounds were characterized and identified by physical and spectral evidence.     

Synthesis of Hexahydrospiro[pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline‐4,1′‐pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]quinoline‐2′,5(1H,4′H)‐diones] from 5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]quinoline‐1,2‐dione Using Fe3O4@Cu(OH)x as a Nanocatalyst

The tricyclic isatin, 5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]quinoline‐1,2‐dione, undergoes three‐component, one‐pot reactions with 1‐aryl‐3‐methylpyrazole‐5‐amines and cyclohexane‐1,3‐diones producing hexacyclic spiro products, hexahydrospiro[pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline‐4,1‐pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]quinoline‐2′,5(1H,4′H)‐diones]. Comparable spiro condensation products are also obtained using 4‐hydroxy‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one in place of cyclohexane‐1,3‐diones.     

Diarylheptanoids from the Rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum

A novel dimeric diarylheptanoid, (5R,5′R)‐7,7′‐(6,6′‐dihydroxy‐5,5′‐dimethoxy[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐3,3′‐diyl)bis[5‐methoxy‐1‐phenylheptan‐3‐one] ( 1 ), and two new diarylheptanoids, (4E,6R)‐6‐hydroxy‐7‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐1‐phenylhept‐4‐en‐3‐one ( 2 ) and (4E,6R)‐6‐hydroxy‐1,7‐diphenylhept‐4‐en‐3‐one ( 3 ), together with seven known diarylheptanoids, were isolated from the rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum. Their structures were elucidated by application of extensive spectroscopic analyses and the modified Mosher method.     

Synthesis of Some Novel Amino Phenols with Octahydro‐1,1′‐binaphthyl Backbone

A series of new octahydro‐1,1′‐binaphthyl derivatives, namely (R)‐(+)‐2‐(N, N‐dialkylamino)‐2′‐hydroxy‐5,5′,6,6′,7, 7′,8,8′‐octahydro‐1,1′‐binaphthyls (7,9), have been synthesized. Their asymmetric induction for enantioselective addition of Et₂Zn to benzaldehyde was examined and it was found that (R)‐(+)‐2‐(N‐cyclohexyl‐N‐methylamino)‐2′‐hydroxy‐5, 5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′‐octahydro‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (9c) exhibited the best asymmetric induction among the ligands prepared, up to 55% ee of 1‐phenylpropanol being obtained.