Asymmetric synthesis of beta-amino alcohols by reductive cross-coupling of benzylideneamine with planar chiral benzaldehydes.

[reaction: see text] Samarium iodide mediated reductive cross-coupling of N-tosyl benzylideneamine with benzaldehydes or the corresponding chromium complexes gave syn-beta-amino alcohol derivatives. A dynamic kinetic resolution of a configurationally equilibrated reactive species occurred in the cross-coupling with planar chiral benzaldehyde chromium complexes.