Asymmetric conjugate reductions of coumarins. A new route to tolterodine and related coumarin derivatives.

The combination of catalytic amounts of [(R)-DTBM-SEGPHOS]CuH in the presence of stoichiometric DEMS (diethoxymethylsilane) in toluene at room temperature leads to asymmetric reductions of 4-substituted coumarins. Several targets or their known precursors can be prepared in high yields and ee's, including the muscarine receptor antagonist (R)-tolterodine.