Synthesis of chiral dendrimers with a hydrocarbon backbone and application to the catalytic enantioselective addition of dialkylzincs to aldehydes

Chiral dendrimers with three or six β-amino alcohols on hyperbranched hydrocarbon chain-ends were synthesized. These macromolecules can act as chiral catalysts for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzincs to aldehydes. The corresponding secondary alcohols are obtained in high enantiomeric excess (up to 86% e.e.).