A New Approach to the Synthesis of Optically Active Norephedrine, Norpseudoephedrine and Cathinone via Double Asymmetric Induction

New and facile synthetic routes for preparation of optically active norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine and cathinone with high optical purities via double asymmetric induction by employing asymmetric reduction of 2-N-protected amino (or azido)-1-phenylpropanone and 2-methanesulfonyloxy-1-phenylpropanone with CBS-catalyzed-borane and $^dIpc_2BCl$ as chiral reducing agents are described.