A process is provided for preparing optically active alcohols, amines and derivatives
thereof by reacting aldehydes or imines at a temperature of less than 15
C. in the presence of a chiral, enantiomerically pure auxiliary with an organozinc
halide which is obtained from zinc and a reactive halogen compound, and water,
acid or base, or an alkylating, arylating, acylating or silylating reagent is subsequently added.
