Design and Synthesis of 1,4-Amino Alcohol Ligands with a Chiral Cyclopropane Backbone for Asymmetric Diethylzinc Addition to Aromatic Aldehydes

A new type of cis-1,4-amino alcohols with a cyclopropane backbone have been developed in three simple steps, from a cheap industrial intermediate for enantioselective asymmetric diethylzinc addition to aromatic aldehydes, under mild conditions to afford corresponding secondary alcohols in high yield with excellent enantioselectivity.