Anti-Selective Aldol Reaction of Benzylic Nitriles and Synthesis of .gamma.-Amino Alcohols
摘要:
The stereochemistry of the aldol reaction of seven benzylic nitriles 1a-g and four aldehydes 2-5 has been studied. In all cases studied the reaction is anti-selective. Good to excellent selectivity (10:1->20:1) can be obtained if aldehydes with bulky secondary or tertiary substituents are used. The resulting aldols 6-9 are easily transformed to the corresponding gamma-amino alcohols 12-15, which may possess useful antidepressant activity.