Synthesis of new chiral cis-3-hydroxyazetidines and their application in diethylzinc addition to aldehydes.

A new series of chiral cis-3-hydroxyazetidines have been prepared from (R)-1-phenylethylamine. They have excellent catalytic activities and enantiomeric selectivities in asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes. Chirality, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.