Abstract
The chiral B-isopinocampheyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-potassium hydride (IPC-9-BBN-KH) and potassium B-isopinocampheyl-9-boratabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (K IPC-9-BBNH) systems were applied to the enantioselective reduction of representative racemic epoxides, namely 1,2-epoxybutane, 1,2-epoxyoctane, 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-epoxybutane and styrene oxide. In the case of IPC-9-BBN-KH system, the optical yields are in the range of 8.3-37.4$\%$ ee. However, the system of K IPC-9-BBNH provides significantly lower optical yields, showing 7-22.5$\%$ ee. These results strongly suggest that the enantioselective coordination of chiral organoborane to the epoxy oxygen of racemic epoxides plays an important role in this resolution.