Takasago International Corporation

Takasago Perfumery Co., Ltd.

Hidemasa Takaya

Hidenori Kumobayashi

Noboru Sayo

Susumu Akutagawa

Ryoji Noyori

Tetsuo Ohta

Takao Saito

Hiroyuki Nohira

Akira Miyashita

Kazushi Mashima

Takanao Taketomi

Kazuhiko Matsumura

Nobuo Yamada

Toshiyuki Takezawa

Yasushi Kato

Misao Yagi

Yoshiki Okeda

Masato Kitamura

Kyoko Tamao

Tetsuo Tomita

Yoshiharu Gonda

Xiaoyong Zhang

Shinichi Inoue

Susumo Akutagawa

Takeshi Chiba

Satoshi Mano

Nozomu Sakai

Ryoli Noyori

A process for the production of an optically active carboxylic acid (I), which comprises subjecting an olefinic carboxylic acid (II) to asymmetric hydrogenation using a complex as a catalyst consisting of an optically active phosphine (III) and a ruthenium compound. Complex of ##STR1## with a ruthenium compound ##STR2## According to the process of the present invention, optically active carboxylic acids can be produced with high yield.

Process for producing optically active carboxylic acid

The present invention provides a novel transition metal complex which catalyzes asymmetric hydrogenation reaction. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of the foregoing novel complex. The present invention further provides an asymmetric hydrogenation catalyst comprising the foregoing novel complex. The novel transition metal complex is provided, represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1##

Transition metal complex, process for the preparation of the same, and

A phosphine compound represented by one of the formulas: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different, each represent a phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted with a halogen atom or a lower alkyl group or taken together form a divalent hydrocarbon group; and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, which may be the same or different, each represent a lower alkyl group, a phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted with a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a lower alkoxy group or taken together form a divalent hydrocarbon group, and wherein R.sup.6 and R.sup.6' which may be the same or different, each represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a lower alkoxy group; R.sup.5, R.sup.5', R.sup.11 and R.sup.11' which may be the same or different, each represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group or a halogen atom; or a pair of R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 or a pair of R.sup.5' and R.sup.6' may form a ring; R.sup.7 and R.sup.8, which may be the same or different, each represent a phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted with a lower alkyl group, a halogen atom or a lower alkoxy group; and R.sup.9 and R.sup.10, which may be the same or different, each represent a phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted with a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group or a halogen atom; or R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 may be taken together to form a divalent hydrocarbon group.

Phosphine compound, complex containing the phosphine compound as ligand,

A process for preparing optically active 4-methyl-2-oxetanone which comprises asymmetrically hydrogenating 4-methylene-2-oxetanone in the presence of a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex. Optically active 4-methyl-2-oxetanone can easily and economically be obtained at high optical purity.

Process for preparing optically active 4-methyl-2-oxetanone

An iridium-optically active phosphine complex represented by formula (I):

Iridium-optically active phosphine complex and process for producing

A process for producing a carboxylic acid or an ester thereof represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: R represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R.sup.1 represents a lower alkyl group; CH.sub.2 COOR.sup.3, wherein R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; or NHR.sup.4, wherein R.sup.4 represents a formyl group, an acetyl group, a benzoyl group, or a chloroacetyl group, and

Process for producing carboxylic acids and esters thereof

A process for preparing an optically active alcohol is disclosed, which comprises asymmetrically hydrogenating a carbonyl compound in the presence of a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex as a catalyst. The resulting alcohol has high optical purity.

Process for preparing optically active alcohol

A ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex having, as a ligand, BICHEP which means 2,2'-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl represented by formula (I): ##STR1## is disclosed, which can catalyze asymmetric syntheses, such as asymmetric hydrogenation, asymmetric isomerization, and asymmetric silylation, exhibiting excellent catalytic activity and providing high optical purity.

Ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex

A ruthenium-phosphine complex represented by formula (I)

Ruthenium-phoshine complex

A process for producing an optically active alcohol represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having from 2 to 11 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having from 3 to 11 carbon atoms, an alkadienyl group having from 6 to 11 carbon atoms, a cyclohexyl group, an cyclohexylmethyl group, or a cyclohexylethyl group, provided that the olefin in the alkenyl group or alkadienyl group is not conjugated to the olefin at the 2-position thereof; and * means an asymmetric carbon atom, is disclosed, comprising subjecting an olefinic alcohol represented by formula (II): ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is the same as defined above to asymmetric hydrogenation in the presence of, as a catalyst, a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex. According to the process of the invention, the desired optically active alcohols which are useful not only as intermediates for the manufacture of perfumes and vitamin E but also as liquid crystal materials can be produced with high optical purities.

Process for producing optically active alcohols

A process for producing an optically active carboxylic acid represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, and R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or a phenyl or naphthyl group which may have a substituent, provided that all of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are not simultaneously a hydrogen atom; when R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are simultaneously a hydrogen atom, then R.sup.3 is not a methyl group; and that when R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom, then R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each a group other then a hydrogen atom, is disclosed, comprising asymmetrically hydrogenating an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid represented by formula (II): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are the same as defined above, in the presence of a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex as a catalyst. According to the process of the invention, the desired optically active carboxylic acids which can be widely used as raw materials for synthesizing various useful compounds, for example, as intermediates for synthesizing physiologically active substances of natural materials and also as liquid crystal materials can be industrially advantageously produced.

A process for preparing an optically active alcohol is disclosed, which comprises asymmetrically hydrogenating a .beta.-keto acid derivative in the presence of a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex as a catalyst. The resulting alcohol has high optical purity.

A process for preparing an optically active alcohol is disclosed, which comprises asymmetrically hydrogenating a 1,3-diketone in the presence of a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex as a catalyst. The resulting alcohol has high optical purity.

Growing community of inventors

Shiga, Japan

Hidemasa Takaya