New, Convenient Methods of Synthesis and Resolution of 1,2-Amino Alcohols

Oximes of α-keto esters are reduced to obtain the corresponding amino alcohols using NaBH 4 in combination with I 2 , CH 3 COOH, TiCl 4 , ZrCl 4 , COCl 2 , H 2 SO 4 , and TMS-Cl in 60-85% yields. The racemic phenylglycinol, phenylalaninol, and 2-aminobutanol are resolved using dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid to obtain enantiomeric samples of >98% ee.