(S)-(+)-1-(4-{2-[Bis (4-fluorophenyl) methoxy] ethyl} piperazin-1-yl)-2-phenyl-2-propanol, which is a promising candidate as a cocaine abuse therapeutic agent, is prepared in several steps. The key asymmetric step is the catalytic enantioselective addition of dimethylzinc to either 2-chloro or 2-bromoacetophenone catalyzed by the use of different chiral isoborneolsulfonamide ligands in the presence of titanium tetraisopropoxide. The ...