An efficient synthesis of 1-naphthylbis(oxazoline) and exploration of the scope in asymmetric catalysis

Both enantiomers of 1-naphthylglycine were obtained in 99% ee by enzymatic resolution of the corresponding racemic amino acid amide, giving access to the novel ligands (R)- and (S)-naphthylbis(oxazohne). Initial studies provided insight into the scope and limitations of the (S)-naphthyl-substituted bis(oxazoline) and its steric influence compared to other bis(oxazolines) in catalytic asymmetric synthesis. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003).