Synthesis of Two 1,1'-Bi-2-naphthol-Based Chiral Polyethers for the Enantioselective Addition of Phenylacetylene to Aldehydes

Two polyethers derived from bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) were synthesized and its asymmetric inducement in the addition of phenylacetylene to aldehydes was studied.The addition products have good enantioselectivity with up to 95% enantiomeric excess (ee).Furthermore, the polyether could be conveniently recovered and reused at least 6 times without loss of catalytic ability.