Evans–Saksena reduction

The reaction was first described by Anil K. Saksena in 1983[1] and further developed by David A. Evans in 1987.

[2] The reaction is thought to proceed through the 6-membered ring transition state shown below.

The intramolecular hydride delivery from the boron reducing agent forces the reduction to proceed from the opposite face of the chelating β-alcohol, thus determining the diastereoselectivity.

This can be contrasted with the Narasaka–Prasad reduction which similarly employs a boron chelating agent but undergoes an intermolecular hydride delivery, favouring the corresponding syn-diol product.

The Saksena-Evans reduction has since been used in the synthesis of several products, particularly the bryostatins.