Albemarle Corporation

Christi R Bedell

Edward G Samsel

It has been discovered that it is possible to produce enantioselectively, a chiral 2-haloalkanoic acid or salt thereof, by subjecting a 2-halo-&agr;,&bgr;-alkenoic acid or salt, e.g., a 2-haloacrylic acid or salt, to asymmetric hydrogenation in the presence of an enantiometrically-enriched (BINAP)Ru(II) catalyst. In contrast to asymmetric hydrogenation of olefinic compounds having an electron rich, electropositive substituent in the 2-position, the substituent in the 2-position is an electronegative, electron-withdrawing halide substituent. The reaction is accelerated by inclusion of an alkali metal halide or quaternary ammonium halide in the reaction mixture.

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Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America

Christi R Bedell