Author's Organization：The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN)
Zinc borohydride reduction of α-methyl-β-hydroxy ketones 3 produced the erythro-2-methyl-1, 3-glycol derivatives 4 with high stereoselectivity. The selectivity was particularly high when an olefinic group was conjugated to the carbonyl group. Reduction of the same system with NaBH4 and LiBH4 showed poor selectivity.
