Process for preparing ruthenium-phosphine complex

Abstract: A process for preparing a ruthenium-phosphine complex represented by formula (I): [{RuX(L)} 2 (µ-X) 3 ] - [R 2 NH 2 ] + wherein R is hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group; X is halogen; and L is an optically active or inactive tertiary phosphine, comprising (A) reacting a ruthenium complex represented by formula: [RuX(arene)(L)]X (wherein arene is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group) and an ammonium salt represented by formula (III): R 2 NH·HX, or (B) reacting a ruthenium complex represented by formula: [RuX 2 (arene)] 2 , a tertiary phosphine represented by L, and an ammonium salt (III). The complex (I) useful as a catalyst for general syntheses or asymmetric syntheses can be obtained easily in good yield.

Description: This invention relates to a process for preparing a ruthenium-phosphine complex. Numerous organic synthesis reactions using a transition metal complex as a catalyst have been developed and utilized for diverse purposes. Various asymmetric catalysts particularly for asymmetric hydrogenation have been reported. Ever since the report on synthesis of an asymmetric hydrogenation product having a high optical purity by asymmetric hydrogenation using a complex made up of a rhodium atom and an optically active phosphine as a ligand, there has been a large number of reports made on asymmetric hydrogenation using a complex formed of a transition metal atom and an optically active phosphine. For example, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. , p. 922 (1985) and J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. I, p. 1571 (1987) teach a technique for preparing an optically active amino acid derivative by hydrogenating an acylaminoacrylic acid derivative using a 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl-ruthenium complex (hereinafter referred to as a BINAP-Ru complex). Metallic ruthenium is relatively cheap among transition metals so that it is expected to provide industrially advantageous catalysts. The outstanding problem associated with ruthenium catalysts lies in reaction precision and applicability. It has therefore been demanded to develop a catalyst which can be prepared with ease and at low cost and exhibits high and long-lasting activity to achieve a high asymmetric yield in an asymmetric reaction, i.e., to provide an asymmetric reaction product of high optical purity. The conventional ruthenium complexes are not satisfactory because of their several disadvantages, such that the process for preparation is complicated; the yield and stability of the complex are insufficient; the complex is made up of a complicated mixture; or the catalytic activity or duration of action is insufficient. WO 95-A-18784 discloses the preparation of the dimeric complex [{RuCl((R)-BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + via the reaction of (cyclooctadienyl)ruthenium dichloride and (R)-BINAP in toluene in the presence of triethylamine, the reaction providing a yield of 75% after purification. The ruthenium-phosphine complex is used as a catalyst in the asymmetric hydrogenation of β- or γ- ketoesters and β- or γ-ketoamides. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventors of the present invention have studied intensively in order to meet the above-mentioned industrial demand. As a result, they have established a process for preparing a ruthenium-phosphine complex having high catalytic activity, in which an optically inactive liquid is used to provide a catalyst useful for general syntheses, or an optically active ligand is used to provide a catalyst useful for asymmetric syntheses, and a desired complex is obtained through simple operation in good yield. The present invention has been completed based on this finding. The present invention provides a process for preparing a ruthenium-phosphine complex represented by formula (I): [{RuX[L)} 2 (µ-X) 3 ] - [R 2 NH 2 ] + wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group; X represents a halogen atom; and L represents a tertiary phosphine, comprising reacting a ruthenium complex represented by formula (II): [RuX(arene)(L)]X wherein X and L are as defined above; and arene represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, and an ammonium salt represented by formula (III): R 2 NH•HX wherein R and X are as defined above. The present invention also provides a process for preparing a ruthenium-phosphine complex represented by formula (I) comprising reacting a ruthenium complex represented by formula (IV): [RuX 2 (arene)] 2 wherein X and arene are as defined above, a tertiary phosphine represented by L, and an ammonium salt represented by formula (III). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The tertiary phosphine (L) in formula (I) includes those represented by the following formulae (V) to (VII). wherein R 2 represents a phenyl group, a 4-methylphenyl group, a 3-methylphenyl group, a 3,5-dimethylphenyl group, a 3,5-tert-butylphenyl group, a 4-chlorophenyl group, a 4-fluorophenyl group, a 4-trifluoromethylphenyl group, a 4-methoxyphenyl group, a 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl group, a 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl group, a 3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxyphenyl group, a 2-naphthyl group, a 1-naphthyl group, a cyclohexyl group or a cyclopentyl group. wherein R 3 represents a phenyl group, a 4-methylphenyl group, a 4-methoxyphenyl group, a 3,5-dimethylphenyl group, a 3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxyphenyl group or a cyclohexyl group. wherein R 3 represents a phenyl group, a 4-methylphenyl group, a 4-methoxyphenyl group, a 3,5-dimethylphenyl group, a 3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxyphenyl group or a cyclohexyl group; R 4 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a methoxy group; R 5 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a methoxy group or a chlorine atom; and R 6 represents a methyl group, a methoxy group or a trifluoromethyl group. Examples of the optically active phosphine compounds represented by formula (VII) include those described in Chem. Pharm. Bull. , Vol. 39, p. 1085 (1991), such as (2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl-5,5'-dimethoxybiphenyl represented by formula: and (2,2'-bis[bis(p-methoxyphenyl)phosphino]-4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl-5,5'-dimethoxybiphenyl represented by formula: those shown in Synlett, p. 827 (1991), such as 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-tetratrifluoromethylbiphenyl represented by formula: and 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,6-ditrifluoromethyl-4,6'-dimethyl-5'-methoxybiphenyl represented by formula: and those disclosed in Tetrahedron:Asymmetry , Vol. 3, p. 13 (1992), such as 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2'-diphenylphosphino-4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl-5,5'-dimethoxybiphenyl represented by formula: Additionally, the following optically active phosphine compounds disclosed in JP-B-4-15796 (the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication") are also useful. 2,2'-Diphenylphosphino-4,4',6,6'-tetramethylbiphenyl represented by formula: 2,2'-Bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-tetramethylbiphenyl represented by formula: 2,2'-Bis(diphenylphoshino)-3,3',6,6'-tetramethylbiphenyl represented by formula: 2,2'-Bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4'-difluoro-6,6'-dimethylbiphenyl represented by formula: 2,2'-Bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)-6,6'-dimethylbiphenyl represented by formula: 2,2'-Bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethylbiphenyl represented by formula: 2,2'-Bis(di-o-tolylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethylbiphenyl represented by formula: 2,2'-Bis[bis(m-fluorophenyl)phosphino]-6,6'-dimethylbiphenyl represented by formula: 1,11-Bis(diphenylphosphino)-5,7-dihydrodibenzo[c.e]oxepin represented by formula: The following compounds which are disclosed in JP-A-3-5492 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") are also useful. 2,2'-Bis(diphenylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethoxybiphenyl represented by formula: 2,2'-Bis(diphenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6'-tetramethoxybiphenyl represented by formula: 2,2'-Bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',5,5',6,6'-hexamethoxybiphenyl represented by formula: 2,2'-Bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-dimethoxybiphenyl represented by formula: 2,2'-Bis(di-p-tolylphosphino-5,5',6,6'-tetramethoxybiphenyl represented by formula: Optically active phosphine compounds further include 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (hereafter referred to as CHIRAPHOS) represented by formula (VIII): 2,3-O-isopropylidene-2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (hereinafter referred to as DIOP) represented by formula (IX): 2,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane (hereinafter referred to as BDPP) represented by formula (X): 1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-4-diphenylphosphino-2-diphenylphosphinomethylpyrrolidine (hereinafter referred to as BPPM) represented by formula (XI): and 1-[1',2-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl)ethanol (hereinafter referred to as BPPHFOH) represented by formula (XII): Optically inactive tertiary phosphines include bisdiphenylphosphinoethane, bisdiphenylphosphinopropane, bisdiphenylphosphinobutane, bisdiphenylphosphinopentane, and bisdiphenylphosphinohexane. R in formula (I) represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group. The lower alkyl group and the cycloalkyl group as R preferably include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl and cyclohexyl groups The substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group includes a benzyl group and a 1-phenylethyl group. Preferred dialkylamines (HNR 2 ) include dimethylamine, diethylamine, dipropylamine, diisopropylamine, dibutylamine, diisobutylamine, di-tert-butylamine, dicyclohexylamine, dibenzylamine, 1-phenylethylamine, bis(1-phenylethyl)amine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, morpholine, and L-proline methyl ester. X in formula (I) includes chlorine, bromine, and iodine. Particularly preferred complexes of formula (I) are shown below: [{RuCl(BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + [{RuCl(Tol-BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + [{RuCl(DM-BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + [{RuCl(MeO-BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + [{RuCl(H 8 -BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - (Et 2 NH 2 ] + [{RuCl(BIPHEMP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + [{RuCl(BICHEP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + [{RuCl(Tol-BIPHEMP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + [{RuCl(MeO-BIPHEP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + [{RuCl(p-Tol-MeO-BIPHEP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + wherein "BINAP" represents 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl, "Tol-BINAP" represents 2,2'-bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl, "DM-BINAP" represents 2,2'-bis(di-3,5-dixylylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl, "MeO-BINAP" represents 2,2'-bis[di(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphino]-1,1'-binaphthyl, "H 8 -BINAP" represents 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro-1,1'-binaphthyl, "BIPHEMP" represents 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl, "BICHEP" represents 2,2'-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethylbiphenyl, "Tol-BIPHEMP" represents 2,2'-bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl, "MeO-BIPHEP" represents 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl, and "p-Tol-MeO-BIPHEP" represents 2,2'-bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl. "arene" in formula (II) represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group. Preferred compounds from which "arene" is derived include benzene, toluene, xylene, mesitylene, p-cymene, cumene, hexamethylbenzene, ethylbenzene, methyl benzoate, ethyl benzoate, anisole, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, bromobenzene, and fluorobenzene. X in formula (II) includes chlorine, bromine, and iodine. L in formula (II) is the same as in formula (I). R and X in formula (III) are the same as in formula (I). X in formula (IV) is the same as in formula (I), and "arene" in formula (IV) is the same as in formula (II). Of the complexes represented by formula (II) those in which X is chlorine, i.e., [RuCl(arene)(L)]Cl (herein arene is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group) are synthesized quantitatively by reacting [RuCl 2 (arene)] 2 (prepared by a process known in the literature, e.g., G. Wikhaus, J. Org. Chem. , Vol. 41, p. 487 (1976) or R. A. Zelonka, Can. J. Chem. , Vol. 50, p. 3643 (1972)) with a tertiary phosphine L in a solvent, such as methanol, ethanol, benzene, methylene chloride or a mixture thereof, at 20 to 50°C for 1 to 3 hours and removing the solvent by evaporation under reduced pressure. Those in which X is bromine or iodine, i.e., [RuBr(arene)(L)]Br or [RuI(arene)(L)]I can be prepared as follows. [RuCl 2 (arene)] 2 is reacted with a salt represented by formula (XII): M 1 Z wherein M 1 represents Li, Na or K; and Z represents Br or I, in water or methylene chloride as a solvent by stirring at room temperature in the presence of a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salt represented by formula (XIII): R 4 R 5 R 6 R 7 QX wherein R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7 each represent an alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms or a benzyl group; Q represents a nitrogen atom or a phosphorus atom; and X represents a halogen atom, as a phase transfer catalyst to obtain [RuZ 2 (arene)] 2 (see Mashima et al., J. Org. Chem. , Vol. 59, p. 3064 (1994)). The phase transfer catalyst (XIII) to be used include Et 4 NCl, Et 4 NBr, Et 4 NI, Bu 4 NCl, Bu 4 NBr, Bu 4 NI, (benzyl)Et 3 NCl, (benzyl)Et 3 NBr, (benzyl)Et 3 NI, (benzyl)Pr 3 NCl, (benzyl)Pr 3 NBr, (benzyl)Pr 3 NI, (C 8 H 17 )Me 3 NCl, (C 8 H 17 )Me 3 NBr, (C 8 H 17 )Me 3 NI, (C 16 H 33 )Me 3 NCl, C 16 H 33 )Me 3 NBr, (C 16 H 33 )Me 3 NI, MePh 3 PCl, MePh 3 PBr, MePh 3 PI, EtPh 3 FCl, EtPh 3 PBr, EtPh 3 PI, BuPh 3 PCl, BuPh 3 PBr, BuPh 3 PI, (C 8 H 17 )Ph 3 PCl, (C 8 H 17 )Ph 3 PBr, (C 8 H 17 )Ph 3 PI, (C 16 H 33 )Ph 3 PCl, (C 16 H 33 )Bu 3 PBr, and (C 16 H 33 )Bu 3 PI, (C 16 H 33 )Bu 3 PCl, (C 16 H 33 )Bu 3 PBr, and (C 16 H 33 )Bu 3 PI. The resulting [RuZ 2 (arene)] 2 and L are reacted in a solvent, such as methanol, ethanol, benzene, methylene chloride or a mixture thereof at 20 to 50°C for 1 to 3 hours, and the solvent was removed by evaporation under reduced pressure to obtain [RuBr(arene)(L)]Br or [RuI(arene)(L)]I quantitatively. Using the thus prepared [RuX(arene)(L)]X (II) as an intermediate, the complex of the present invention, for example, [{RuCl(BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + , can be prepared quantitatively by reacting [RuCl(benzene)(BINAP)]Cl (II) with diethylamine hydrochloride (III) (Et 2 NH•HCl) in a solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), dioxane, dimethoxyethane (DME), dimethylacetamide (DMA), dimethylformamide (DMF) or dioxolane, at 50 to 100°C for 5 to 20 hours and removing the solvent by evaporation. Using [RuZ 2 (arene)] 2 (IV) as an intermediate, the complex of the present invention, for example, [{RuCl(BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + , can be prepared quantitatively by reacting [RuCl 2 (benzene)] 2 (IV), BINAP (L), and Et 2 NH•HCl (III) in a solvent, such as THF, dioxane, DME, DMA, DMF or dioxolane, at 50 to 100°C for 5 to 20 hours and removing the solvent by evaporation. The ruthenium-phosphine complexes prepared by the process of the invention have been confirmed to be a pure complex as a result of analyses such as 31 P-NMR. The complexes obtained by the process of the invention are stable and exhibit high catalytic activity in asymmetric hydrogenation. That is, when the complex is used in a concentration of 1/100 to 1/10000 M based on the reaction substrate, a hydrogenation reaction proceeds rapidly to give excellent results in terms of chemical and optical purity of the hydrogenation product. The substrates applicable to the hydrogenation reaction include allyl alcohols, such as geraniol and nerol; olefinic acids, such as α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids, e.g., tiglic acid, dehydronaproxen, and itaconic acid; and ketones, such as methyl acetoacetate, 2-oxopropanol, and 2,4-pentanedione. Unlike the conventional processes for preparing a ruthenium-phosphine complex which involve purification of a product comprising a mixture as obtained, the process according to the present invention requires no purification procedures and provides a desired complex as a pure and single product. The complex obtained by the process of the invention is stable and, when used in asymmetric hydrogenation, exhibits very high activity to give excellent results in terms of chemical and optical purity of a hydrogenation product. The present invention will now be illustrated in greater detail with reference to Examples and Application Examples, but it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto. Unless otherwise indicated, all the percents are by weight. In Examples, measurements of physical properties were made with the following equipment. 1 H-NMR: AM400, manufactured by Bruker Inc. (400 MHz; internal standard: tetramethylsilane) 31 P-NMR: AM400, manufactured by Bruker Inc. (162 MHz; internal standard: 85% phosphoric acid) Gas-liquid chromatography (GLC): 5890-II, manufactured by Hewlett Packard In Application Examples, the conversion and optical purity of the product obtained were measured by GLC using the following columns. Conversion: FFAP (25 m x 0.35 mm) manufactured by GL Science. Optical Purity: α-DEX120 (30 m x 0.25 mm) manufactured by Supelco, Inc.) EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis of [{RuCl((R)-BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + In a Schlenk tube were charged 0.43 g (0.5 mmol) of [RuCl(benzene)((R)-BINAP)]Cl and 54 mg (0.5 mmol) of diethylamine hydrochloride, and the tube was purged with nitrogen. To the mixture was added 20 ml of degassed THF, followed by stirring under reflux for 16 hours. Concentration of the reaction mixture gave 0.42 g (98%) of {bis[ruthenium-chloro{(R)-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl}]-µ-trichloro}diethylammonium as a brown solid. Purification was not needed. 31 P-NMR (CDCl 3 ) δ: 52.12 (d, J=38Hz), 54.76 (d, J=39Hz) EXAMPLE 2 Synthesis of [{RuCl((R)-H 8 -BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + In a Schlenk tube were charged 0.44 g (0.5 mmol) of [RuCl(benzene)((R)-H 8 -BINAP)]Cl and 274 mg (2.5 mmol) of diethylamine hydrochloride, and the tube was purged with nitrogen. To the mixture was added 20 ml of degassed THF, followed by stirring under reflux for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered using Celite, and the filtrate was concentrated to give 0.82 g (96%) of {bis[ruthenium-chloro{(R)-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro-1,1'-binaphthyl}]-µ-trichloro}diethylammonium as a brown solid. Purification was not needed. 31 P-NMR (CDCl 3 ) δ: 44.69 (d, J=42Hz), 50.96 (d, J=41Hz) EXAMPLES 3 TO 17 [RuX(arene)(L)]X of formula (II) and R 2 NH•HX of formula (III) were reacted in the same manner as in Example 2 to obtain [{RuX(L)} 2 (µ-X) 3 ] - [R 2 NH 2 ] + . The compounds (II) and (III) used are shown in Table 1. The 31 P-NMR spectrum of the resulting complex is also shown in Table 1. Purification was not needed in every reaction. EXAMPLE 18 Synthesis of [{RuCl((S)-BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Me 2 NH 2 ] + In a Schlenk tube were charged 50 mg (0.2 mmol) of [RuCl 2 (benzene)] 2 (IV), 124 mg (0.2 mmol) of (S)-BINAP (L), and 16 mg (0.2 mmol) of diethylamine hydrochloride (III), and the tube was purged with nitrogen. To the mixture was added 10 ml of degassed THF, followed by stirring under reflux for 16 hours. Concentration of the reaction mixture gave 0.16 g (95%) of {bis[ruthenium-chloro{(S)-2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl}]-µ-trichloro}dimethylammonium as a brown solid. Purification was not needed. 31 P-NMR (CDCl 3 ) δ: 51.82 (d, J=38Hz), 53.13 (d, J=38Hz) EXAMPLES 19 TO 20 The complexes of the present invention were prepared in the same manner as in Example 18, except for using (R)-BINAP as a tertiary phosphine (L) and using dimethylamine or piperidine as an R 2 NH moiety of formula (III) as shown in Table 2 below. The 31 P-NMR spectrum of the resulting complex is also shown in the Table. No purification was needed in each reaction. COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of [{RuCl((R)-MeO-BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + (R)-MeO-BINAP (202 mg, 0.27 mmol), 76 mg (0.27 mmol) of [RuCl 2 (cod)] n (wherein cod stands for cyclooctadiene) (available from N.E. Chemcat Ltd.), 30 ml of toluene, and 1 ml of triethylamine were heated at 110°C for 8 hours while stirring. The reaction mixture was concentrated, and the residue was recrystallized from a mixture of 3 ml of methylene chloride and 20 ml of diethyl ether to give 97 mg (37%) of the title compound as deep red crystals. APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1 Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Tiglic Acid Tiglic acid (2-methyl-2-butenoic acid) (6.0 g, 60 mmol) and 2.4 mg (1.4 µmol) of the complex obtained in Example 2, i.e., [{RuCl(R)-H 8 -BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + were stirred in a mixture of 2.4 ml of methanol and 9.6 ml of water at 40°C under a hydrogen pressure of 4 atm for 16 hours. After confirming the completion of the reaction by gas chromatography, the solvent was evaporated to give 5.8 g (96%) of 2-methylbutanoic acid. Boiling point: 78°C (15 mmHg) [α] 25 / D = -17.93°C (neat) From the specific rotation, the product was identified to be an (R)-(-)-compound having an optical purity of 94.4%e.e. APPLICATION EXAMPLE 2 Asymmetric Hydrogenation of 2-Oxopropanol In a 100 ml stainless steel autoclave were charged 1.4 mg (6.8 µmol) of the [{RuCL((R)-BINAP)} 2 (µ-Cl) 3 ] - [Et 2 NH 2 ] + obtained in Example 1, 2.0 g (27 mmol) of 2-oxopropanol, and 6 ml of methanol, and the mixture was stirred at 54°C under a. hydrogen pressure of 30 atm for 17 hours. As a result of gas chromatographic analysis on the reaction mixture, it was found that the conversion was 100% and the optical purity was 92.8%. While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims: A process for preparing a ruthenium-phosphine complex represented by formula (I): [{RuX(L)} 2 (µ-X) 3 ] - [R 2 NH 2 ] + wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group; X represents a halogen atom; and L represents a tertiary phosphine, comprising reacting a ruthenium complex represented by formula (II): [RuX(arene)(L)]X wherein X and L are as defined above; and arene represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, and an ammonium salt represented by formula (III): R 2 NH•HX wherein R and X are as defined above. A process for preparing a ruthenium-phosphine complex represented by formula (I): [{RuX(L)} 2 (µ-X) 3 ] - [R 2 NH 2 ] + wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group; X represents a halogen atom; and L represents a tertiary phosphine, comprising reacting a ruthenium complex represented by formula (IV): [RuX 2 (arene)] 2 wherein X is as defined above, a tertiary phosphine represented by L, and an ammonium salt represented by formula (III): R 2 NH•HX wherein R and X are as defined above.

Inventors: MASHIMA KAZUSHI, SAYO NOBORU, MASHIMA, KAZUSHI, SAYO, NOBORU, SAYO, NOBORU, C/O TAKASAGO INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Applicants: TAKASAGO PERFUMERY CO LTD, TAKASAGO INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Application year: 1997
Main classification: C07F15
IPC codes: C07F9, B01J31, C07F15, C07B61, C07B53