Abstract
The asymmetric reduction of representative prochiral ${\alpha},{\beta}$-acetylenic ketones with a new chiral borohydride reducing agent, potassium 9-0-(1,2: 5,6-Di-O-isopropylidene-${\alpha}$ -D-glucofuranosyl)-9-boratabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, 1, in THF at $-78^{\circ}C$ was studied. Structurally different acetylenic ketones such as internal ${\alpha},{\beta}$-acetylenic ketones $RC {\equiv} CCOCH_3$ and terminal ${\alpha},{\beta}$-acetylenic ketones $HC {\equiv} CCOR$ were chosen. Thus, the reduction of internal ${\alpha},{\beta}$-acetylenic ketones yields the corresponding propargyl alcohols, such as 67% ee for 3-hexyn-2-one, 75% ee for 5-methyl-3-hexyn-2-one, 86% ee for 5,5-dimethyl-3-hexyn-2-one, 74% ee for 3-nonyn-2-one and 61% ee for 4-phenyl-3-butyn-2-one. Terminal ${\alpha},{\beta}$-acetylenic ketones, such as 3-butyn-2-one, 1-pentyn-3-one, 4-methyl-1-pentyn-3-one and 1-octyn-3-one, are reduced to the corresponding alcohols with 59% ee, 17% ee, 44% ee and 12% ee of optical induction respectively. With one exception (4-methyl-1-pentyn-3-one), all propargyl alcohols obtained are enriched in R-enantiomers.