Asymmetric intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction of anhydrous phenylglyoxal

The use of anhydrous phenylglyoxal provides a solution to the problem of low reactivity in the asymmetric intramolecular Cannizzaro reaction with alcohols. Double asymmetric induction was achieved in the reaction of anhydrous phenylglyoxal with d-(+)-menthol promoted by a (S,S)-t-BuBox·copper(II) hexafluoroantimonate complex.