Asymmetric reduction of methyl benzoylformate with a chiral NAD(P)H-model compound
Abstract
The title reaction with N-(R)-α-methylbenzyl-1-propyl-2-methyl-4-(R)-methyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide or its 4-(S)-methyl isomer affords methyl mandelate in 97% optical yield and quantitative chemical yield.