Asymmetric catalysis; 138: Synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2-pyridinyl-alpha-ethanols via diastereomeric camphanic esters

New terdentate facially binding ligands based on the 2-pyridinyl-alpha -eth anol skeleton were prepared as the racemates. Reaction with the enantiomeri cally pure (-)-(1S,4R)-camphanoyl chloride gave diastereomeric camphanic es ters. The pure diastereomers were accessible by separating the diastercomer ic esters with medium-pressure silica gel chromatography or fractional crys tallization. X-ray structure analysis of the pure camphanic esters establis hed the absolute configurations of the 2-pyridinyt-alpha -alcohols. The ena ntiomerically pure alcohols were obtained after saponification of the diast ereomerically pure esters.