Selective Reduction of N-Protected-α-amino Lactones to Lactols with Lithium Tri-tert-butoxyaluminohydride.

α-Amino lactols 3 can be prepared in good yield and high optical purity by reduction of α-amino lactones 2 with lithium tri-tert-butoxyaluminohydride (LiAlH(O-t-Bu)3).