Borane-mediated asymmetric reduction of acetophenone by enantiopure aminonaphthols and aminoalcohols as catalytic source.

Practical, cheap, and stereoselective synthetic methods were applied to the preparation of novel 1-(aminoalkyl)naphthol and gamma-aminoalcohol tridentate ligands. The ligands obtained were conveniently applied with good results as catalytic sources in the borane-mediated enantioselective reduction of acetophenone with borane dimethylsulfide. Conformational analysis through molecular modeling allows the rationalization of observed stereochemical outcomes.