Enantioselective trimethylsilylcyanation of aldehydes catalyzed by chiral lanthanoid alkoxides

The first example of enantioselective trimethylsilylcyanation of aldehydes catalyzed by chiral binaphthol and binaphthol-modified lanthanum alkoxides has been achieved, in which an obvious effect of substituents at the 3,3′-positions of BINOL on the enantioselectivity was observed and 3,3′-bis(methoxyethyl)-BINOL had the advantage over simple BINOL to give (S)-products in excellent yields with 73% ee.