Highly enantioselective reduction of Meso-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydrides

Abstract Optically active lactones ( 2a–2g ) were synthesized by highly enantioselective reduction of readily available meso -1,2-dicarboxylic anhydrides ( 1a–1g ) using lithium aluminum hydride-ethanol-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol complex (BINAL-H).