ASYMMETRIC REACTIONS.1. ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF METHYL α-PHENYLPROPIONATE BY MEANS OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE POLYMERS

Asymmetric addition of methanol to phenylmethylketene was attempted with optically active low molecular weight and polymeric amines. Both of them were derived from quinine, N-alkylprolinol and ephedrine as propionyl and poly-acryloyl esters. Quinine and N-alkylprolinol catalysts showed a type of remarkable polymer effect with regard to stereoselectivity.