Chiral amino alcohols derived from (S)-6-chloronicotine as catalysts for asymmetric synthesis

Commercially available (S)-nicotine was converted in two or three synthetic steps to various chiral amino alcohols. These nicotine derivatives were evaluated as potential chiral ligands for metal-catalyzed asymmetric reactions by using the addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes as a screen. Several reactions proceeded with a high degree of enantioselectivity providing good yields of secondary alcohols of high enantiopurity.