Patent ID: 6492545
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: C07B,C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for producing an optically active alcohol represented by the following general formula (III): (wherein R1 represents a C1-C15 alkyl group which may have one or more substituents (selected from halogen atoms, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, amino groups protected by a protective group, amino groups protected by a mineral acid or organic acid, amino groups substituted with one or more C1-C4 lower alkyl groups, a benzyloxy group, C1-C4 lower alkoxy groups, C1-C4 lower alkoxycarbonyl groups, and aryl groups) or an aryl group; and R2 represents a C1-C8 lower alkyl group, or a benzyl group which may have one or more substituents) which comprises asymmetrically hydrogenating a &bgr;-keto ester compound represented by the following general formula (I): (wherein R1 and R2 are the same as defined above) in the presence of at least one ruthenium complex comprising as a ligand an optically active tertiary diphosphine compound represented by the following general formula (II): (wherein R3 and R4 each independently represent a cycloalkyl group, an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group, or a five-membered heteroaromatic ring residue).