Asymmetric synthesis of acyclic 1,3-amino alcohols by reduction of N-sulfinyl beta-amino ketones. Formal synthesis of (-)-pinidinol and (+)- epipinidinol.

Stereoselective reduction of acyclic N-sulfinyl beta-amino ketones with (LiEt(3)BH) and Li(t-BuO)(3)AlH, respectively, gave anti- and syn-1,3-amino alcohols with excellent selectivity. A formal asymmetric synthesis of the hydroxy piperidine alkaloids (-)-pinidinol and (+)-epipinidinol from a common N-sulfinyl beta-amino ketone ketal precursor was developed. The pinidinol piperidine ring was formed via a novel acid-catalyzed cascade reaction of a N-sulfinylamino silyl protected alcohol ketal.