Asymmetric catalyst and process for preparing optically active alcohols using the same

Abstract

The present invention provides an organic metal compound, a ligand, an asymmetric catalyst, and a process for preparing optically-active alcohols using the asymmetric catalyst. The organic metal compound of the present invention is expressed by the following general formula (1): wherein in general formula (1), Rand Rare a mutually identical or mutually different, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group, aryl group, cycloalkyl group, or Rand Rare bound to form an alicyclic ring, Ris a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, Ris a branched alkyl group or an alkyl group that does or does not form a ring by itself, or an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, or an unsubstituted or substituted heterocyclic group, Ar is an unsubstituted or substituted cyclopentadienyl group that is bound to M via a π bond, or an unsubstituted or substituted benzene, X is a hydride group or an anionic group, M is ruthenium, rhodium or iridium, L is a solvent molecule or a water molecule, l is 1 or 2, m is an integer from 0 to 2, n is 0 or 1, and when n is 0, X does not exist, and * represents asymmetric carbon, wherein Ris not a camphor group, a camphor derivative group, an isopropyl group or a phenyl group whenever Rand Rare both a phenyl group.