Reduction of 1,1′-binaphthyls to octahydro-1,1′-binaphthyl derivatives with Raney Ni–Al alloy in aqueous solution

Reduction of BINOL, BINAM and NOBIN with Raney Ni–Al alloy in dilute NaOH aqueous solution results in the formation of H8-BINOL, H8-BINAM and H8-NOBIN in 60–86% isolated yields with 97.5–99% enantiomeric excesses.