Asymmetric reduction of cyclic imines

Asymmetric reduction of cyclic imines. (Df a series of chiral sodium acyloxybo-rohydrides obtained from various chiral N-acyl-a amino acids, 1 affords the highest optical yields (70-86% ee) in the reduction of cyclic imines. 

The (S)-prolinate-borane complex (5)-(22) reduces ketones to the corresponding alcohols with optical yields up to 50%. The asymmetric reduction of cyclic imines (24) with chiral sodium triacyloxyborohydride (S)-(23) was utilized to prepare optically active alkaloids (25) with optical yields up to 86% (eq 9). ... 

Secondary Amines.—The reduction of imines to the corresponding secondary amines can be effected by various methodologies. New additions are the sodium triacyloxyborohydrides (easily obtainable from sodium borohydride and AT-acyl derivatives of optically active amino-acids), which are used for the asymmetric reduction of cyclic imines. Also now available is a highly stereoselective reduction of N-benzylimines derived from substituted cyclohexanones, with alkali-metal borohydrides, in particular L-selectride. A fiuther addition is the first report of the reduction of aldimines by hydrogen transfer from propan-2-ol,... 

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