Asymmetric Reduction of Acetophenone by Lithium Aluminum Hydride Complexed with Optically Active Poly(iminoethylene)s and the Related Diamines

Abstract

Asymmetric reduction of acetopherione by optically active hydride reagents prepared from lithium aluminum hydride and (S)-poly[(S)-iminoethylene]s or the corresponding (S)diamine analogs, yielded optically active 1-phenylethanol. When (S)-diamines were used as modifier, all the sign of the optical rotations for the products was the same, (R)-1-phenylethanol was predominantly formed. On the other hand, for (S)-copolymers as modifier, the configuration of the products was influenced by the molar composition of each polymer.