North Dakota State University

Lin Pu

Qiao-Sheng Hu

Wei-Sheng Huang

A chiral biphenyl compound includes a hindered 2,2'-substituted-1,1'-biphenyl subunit and has the following formula: ##STR1## The chiral biphenyl compounds have been shown to be useful as catalysts in asymmetric reactions. For example, an organozinc species can be formed by reacting the chiral biphenyl compound with an organozinc compound, R.sup.14 R.sup.15 Zn and then used as a catalyst for the asymmetric alkylation of an aldehyde by an organozinc compound.

Chiral biphenyl compounds for use in asymmetric reactions

An organozinc species, useful in the reactions of aldehydes and ketones, is a reaction product of a) a biphenyl compound having one or more hindered 2,2'-substituted biphenyl subunits and b) an organozinc compound, such as diethylzinc. The organozinc species catalyzes the reduction of a ketone by a borane, as well as the epoxidation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated compounds by an oxidizing agent, such as O.sub.2 or an alkyl hydroperoxide. The biphenyl compound may be chiral and may catalyze the formation of optically active reaction products.

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Lin Pu