Highly enantioselective asymmetric autocatalysis of 2-alkenyl- and 2-vinyl-5-pyrimidyl alkanols with significant amplification of enantiomeric excess.

2-Alkenyl- and 2-vinyl-5-pyrimidyl alkanols are highly enantioselective asymmetric autocatalysts with significant amplification of enantiomeric excess in the enantioselective addition of diisopropylzinc to 2-alkenyl- and 2-vinylpyrimidine-5-carbaldehydes. Consecutive asymmetric autocatalysis starting from 7% ee increases the ee of pyrimidyl alkanol up to 99% without the need for any other chiral auxillary. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.