Asymmetric Reduction of Prochiral Ketones with Chiral Hydride Reagents Prepared from Lithium Aluminium Hydride and (S)-2-(N-Substituted aminomethyl)pyrrolidines

Asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones with various hydride reagents prepared from lithium aluminium hydride and (S)-2-(N-substituted aminomethyl) pyrrolidines, derived easily by four steps from commercially available (S)-proline, yields optically active alcohols with 13–92% optical purity having the S-configuration.