Enantioselective Reduction of Prochiral Ketones Using a Reagent Prepared from Lithium Aluminium Hydride, (+)Threo-1,16-Dibenzyloxy, 7(R),8(R)-Dihydroxy Hexadecane and Alcohol

Asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones to optically active chiral secondary alcohols was achieved using a reagent prepared by modifying lithium aluminium hydride with a chiral auxiliary, (+)threo-1,16-dibenzyloxy,7,8-dihydroxy hexadecane and various additive alcohols. (+)threo-1,16-dibenzyloxy,7(R),8(R)-dihydroxy hexadecane was prepared from (+)threo-9(R),10(R),16-trihydroxy hexadecanoic acid. Alcohols such as CH₃(CH₂)_n-OH of different chain length (n = 0–11) and (R)-hydnocarpic alcohol were used. Complex prepared from (+)threo-1,16-dibenzyloxy,7(R),8(R)-dihydroxy hexadecane, LAH and (R)-hydnocarpic alcohol reduced acetophenone in moderate enantioselectivity (maximum of 70% ee). Various arylalkylketones were reduced with the same complex.