Asymmetric reductive aldol-type reaction with carbonyl compounds using dialkyl tartrate as a chiral ligand.

An asymmetric reductive aldol-type reaction of α,β-unsaturated esters with carbonyl compounds using Rh catalyst and Et2Zn was investigated. A chiral zinc complex from α,β-unsaturated ester was easily generated as the key intermediate from Et2Zn and Wilkinson's catalyst with diisopropyl L-(+)-tartrate to give a variety of enantioenriched β-hydroxy esters. The reaction was also applied to the intramolecular reductive aldol cyclization.