Synthesis of enantiomerically pure tertiary 1,2-aminoalcohols by the highly diastereoselective reductive ring opening of oxazolidines

A number of enantiomerically pure 1,2-aminoalcohols containing tertiary nitrogen atoms bearing chiral substituents have been prepared by highly diastereoselective reductive ring cleavage of oxazolidines derived from ketones and pseudoephedrine or ephedrine. The ring cleavage occurs with retention of configuration.