Takasago Perfumery Co., Ltd.

Nobuo Yamada

Hidenori Kumobayashi

Noboru Sayo

Ryoji Noyori

Susumu Akutagawa

Hidemasa Takaya

Toshiyuki Takezawa

Misao Yagi

Takanao Taketomi

Tetsuo Ohta

Toyohiko Kobayashi

Shinichi Inoue

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

Perfume composition

A ruthenium-phosphine complex having a 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl or its derivative as a ligand and carboxyl groups bonded to the ruthenium atom thereof is disclosed. The complex is inexpensive and exhibits excellent performances as a catalyst for various organic syntheses, and particularly for asymmetric hydrogenation.

Ruthenium-phosphine complex

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Kanagawa, Japan

Nobuo Yamada