Roche Vitamins Inc.

Hoffmann-la Roche Inc.

Kurt P&uuml;ntener

Michelangelo Scalone

Yvo Crameri

Vinylating of pyrimidine derivatives

Amino-amide-ruthenium complexes

A process for the manufacture of trans-(R,R)-actinol by diasteroselective transfer hydrogenation of levodione comprises hydrogenating (R)-levodione in the presence of a hydrogen donor, which simultaneously can be used as the solvent, and an amino-amide-ruthenium complex, especially of the formula RuH(L&lcub;&mdash;H&rcub;)(Y), wherein Y signifies a neutral ligand and L signifies an optionally optically active monosulphonylated diamine ligand, as defined in more detail in the description. Moreover, the invention is concerned with some of the amino-amide-ruthenium complexes and with the corresponding precursors to these complexes, which have halogen in place of H. The product of the process in accordance with the invention, trans-(R,R)-actinol, is known as an important building block for the synthesis of carotenoids, e.g. zeaxanthin. By the process trans-(R,R)-actinol is made available in particularly high enantiomeric and diasteromeric purity.

Growing community of inventors

Basel, Switzerland

Kurt Püntener

Growing community of inventors

Basel, Switzerland

Kurt P&uuml;ntener

Kurt Püntener