Highly chemo-, diastereo-, and enantioselective reduction of 1,2-dialkyl-3-aryl-1,3-diketones for preparation of aldol-type compounds

Equation presented Highly chemo-, diastereo-, and enantioselective borohydride reduction of 2-substituted-1,3-diketones was achieved in the presence of the optically active β-ketoiminato cobalt complex catalysts to afford the optically active 2-substituted-3-hydroxyketones. The present catalytic and enantioselective reduction could provide an alternative potential for preparation of optically active anti-aldol-type compounds.