Kinetic Resolution of 2-Formyl-1,1′-binaphthyls by Baker’s-Yeast Reduction of the Formyl Function

Abstract Baker’s-yeast reduction of 2-formyl-1,1′-binaphthyls gave the corresponding optically active 2-hydroxymethyl-1,1′-binaphthyls with the enantiomeric excess reaching up to 70% at 39% conversion in the case of 2-formyl-2′-methoxy-1,1′-binaphthyl.