Catalytic asymmetric Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction of glyoxylates induced by a chiral N,N'-dioxide/Y(OTf) 3 complex.

An asymmetric Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reduction of glyoxylates was for the first time accomplished via an N,N'-dioxide/Y(OTf)(3) complex with aluminium alkoxide and molecular sieves (MSs) as crucial additives. A variety of optically active alpha-hydroxyesters were obtained with excellent results. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed based on the experiments.