ASYMMETRIC CATALYTIC REDUCTION OF KETONES WITH HYPERVALENT TRIALKOXYSILANES

The catalytic asymmetric reduction of different ketones(1) with transi ent hypervalent silicon hydrides is described. Trialkoxysilanes, upon activation by a small amount of a chiral nucleophile, underwent additi on to the carbonyl group, forming the corresponding silyl protected al cohols, which were cleaved during the workup to give the enantiomerica lly enriched product alcohols. A brief screening of the reaction param eters and the results are summarized below.