Chiral crystals of sodium chlorate and sodium bromate induced highly enantioselective organic synthesis in combination with asymmetric autocatalysis. (S)-5-Pyrimidyl alkanols with up to 98% ee were obtained in the enantioselective addition of diisopropylzinc to pyrimidine-5-carbaldehydes in the presence of d-sodium chlorate. On the other hand, (R)-5-pyrimidyl alkanols with up to 98% ee were obtained for the corresponding reaction in the presence of I-sodium chlorate. Chiral crystals of d- and l-sodium bromate were also found to work as chiral initiators. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.