The catalytic asymmetric addition of alkyl- and aryl-zinc reagents to an isoxazole aldehyde

Nucleophilic addition of alkyl- and aryl-zinc reagents to a C(4) functionalized isoxazolyl aldehyde proceeded effectively with high enantioselectivity (85–94% ee). The amino alcohol catalyst (S)-2-piperidinyl-1,1,2-triphenyl ethanol (10) afforded the (R)-product 2b, as established by X-ray crystallography.