Patent ID: 6187966
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: C07B,C07C

Abstract:
A process for preparing optically active alcoholic compounds, which comprises treating a prochiral carbonyl compound represented by the general formula (1); ##STR10##wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are different from each other and represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group containing 7 to 30 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group containing 6 to 30 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a cyano group, provided that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may link together and form a ring;with an optically active organoaluminum compound represented by the general formula (2); ##STR11##wherein R.sup.3 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group containing 7 to 30 carbon atoms; and R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are the same or different from each other and represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group containing 7 to 30 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group containing 6 to 30 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted silyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cyano group, an alkoxycarbonyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phosphorus atom, a substituted or unsubstituted sulfur atom, a halogen atom, or a hydrogen atom, and R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 or R.sup.11 may link with each of them and form a substituted or unsubstituted, condensed ring;to conduct asymmetric reduction, thereby preparing an optically active alcoholic compound of the general formula (3); ##STR12##wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same as defined above.