Application of novel enantiopure hydroxymethyl-substituted pyridine derivatives in asymmetric catalysis

The synthetic modification of enantiopure hydroxymethyl-substituted pyridine derivatives leading to novel chiral ligands is described. A set of these pyridine derivatives was examined as ligands in asymmetric transformations such as enantioselective alkylations or alkynylations of aldehydes, the asymmetric copper-catalyzed Henry reaction and the asymmetric allylation of benzaldehyde with allyl(trichloro)silane. This first screening revealed that several of the pyridine derivatives prepared are effective ligands affording high yields and good enantioselectivities. The asymmetric alkylation of aldehydes with diethylzinc provided yields of up to 93% with an enantiomeric excess of up to 88%. The asymmetric Henry reaction was also efficiently catalyzed by one of the prepared ligands affording (S)-2-nitro-1-phenylethanol in 68% yield and with 70% ee.