Synthesis of Chiral Pyridyl Alcohols by Cyclotrimerization

Significance

Reported is a synthesis of chiral pyridyl alcohols by a two-step reaction. In the first step, catalyst (R,R)-A leads to the S-enantiomers while (S,S)-A results in the formation of the R-enantiomers. The enantiomeric excess of O-tri­methylsilylcyanohydrins B was retained in the final products after Co-catalyzed cyclotrimerization and desilylation.