New bis-steroidal axially chiral diols as ligands for the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

New axially chiral steroidal binaphthols, prepared from estrone, were applied in the form of their Ti-alkoxides as catalysts for the addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes. The addition reactions proceeded with high yields and enantioselectivities up to 86%. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.