Chiral amide synthesized from (1S,2R)-(+)-norephedrine and furoic acid was found to catalyze the enantioselective ethylation of aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes to secondary alcohols with 99.8% enantioselectivity at 0 degrees C without the addition of a promoter such as titanium tetraisopropoxide. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.