Three new chiral bis-β-amino alcohols, 1,2-bis[R-2-amino- 3-hydroxyl-3,3-diphenyl propylthio]ethane (4a), 1,3-bis[R-2-amino- 3-hydroxyl-3,3-diphenyl propylthio]propane (4b), 1,4-bis[R-2-amino- 3-hydroxyl-3,3-diphenyl propylthio]butane (4c), were synthesized starting with L-cysteine. Their application in the enantioselective catalytic borane reduction of aromatic ketones were studied and the enantiomeric excess 72.8% for acetophenone and 91.4% for α-bromo acetophenone have been gained.

Key words: CATALYTIC REACTION, AMINO ALCOHOL P, CHIRALITY, BORANES, BORANE, KETONE P, REDUCTION REACTION, AROMATIC COMPOUNDS, CATALYST