FUNCTIONALIZED MAJOR-GROOVE AND MINOR-GROOVE CHIRAL POLYBINAPHTHYLS -APPLICATION IN THE ASYMMETRIC REACTION OF ALDEHYDES WITH DIETHYLZINC

A series of functionalized and optically active major-groove polybinap hthyls and minor-groove polybinaphthyls have been synthesized by using the Suzuki coupling reaction and have been spectroscopically characte rized. The application of these chiral polymers in the asymmetric addi tion of diethylzinc to aldehydes has been studied. A minor-groove poly binaphthyl is found to be an excellent catalyst for the asymmetric rea ction of diethylzinc with a number of aldehydes. The molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution of the polymer have little effec ts on the catalytic process. The chiral polymer can be easily recovere d and reused without loss of catalytic activity as well as enantiosele ctivity, These rigid and sterically regular chiral polybinaphthyls rep resent a new generation of enantioselective polymeric catalysts, The r eaction of the polybinaphthyls as well as certain monomeric binaphthyl molecules with diethylzinc has been investigated which has provided f urther information on the novel polymeric catalysts.