Patent ID: 8710239

Claim:
A process for preparing the S or R enantiomer of a compound of formula A, the process comprising subjecting a compound of formula B to asymmetric hydrogenation in the presence of a chiral catalyst and a source of hydrogen, wherein X is CH 2 , oxygen or sulphur; R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are the same or different and signify hydrogens, halogens, alkyl, alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, alkylcarbonylamino, alkylamino or dialkylamino group; and R 4 is alkyl or aryl, wherein the term alkyl means hydrocarbon chains, straight or branched, containing from one to six carbon atoms, optionally substituted by aryl, alkoxy, halogen, alkoxycarbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl groups; the term aryl means a phenyl or naphthyl group, optionally substituted by alkyloxy, halogen or nitro group; and the term halogen means fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine, wherein the chiral catalyst comprises a ligand which is the S or R enantiomer of TolBINAP and the reaction is carried out at a temperature from above 70° C. to 100° C. and in the presence of an acid at a concentration of 0.05 to 0.2%.