Enantioselective automultiplication of chiral molecules by asymmetric autocatalysis

Asymmetric autocatalysis is a process of automultiplication of a chiral com pound in which chiral product acts as a chiral catalyst for its own product ion. The discovery and the development of asymmetric autocatalysis of pyrim idyl-, quinolyl-, and pyridyl-alkanols are described in the enantioselectiv e additions of diisopropylzinc to the corresponding nitrogen-containing ald ehydes. (Alkynylpyrimidyl)alkanols automultiply with a yield of over 99% an d over 99.5% ee. Asymmetric autocatalysts with extremely low ee's automulti ply with significant amplification of ee's without the need for any other c hiral auxiliaries. Small enantiomeric imbalances of chiral molecules induce d by physical factors can be amplified by the present asymmetric autocataly sis.