Nickel-catalyzed Diastereoselective Reductive Coupling Reaction of Norbornene with Aldehydes in the Presence of Triethylborane

Highly diastereoselective reductive coupling reaction was achieved between an aldehyde and a norbomene to afford an alcohol compound using a nickel/phosphine catalyst system in the presence of a reducing agent. The combination of a PCy3 ligand and triethylborane as the reducing agent proved effective for the reaction. A wide range of aldehydes were found to participate in the reaction with high diastereoselectivities.