Patent ID: 6846961

Claim:
A selective process for preparing 1-methoxy-2-propanol comprising: reacting propylene oxide with methanol in the presence of a racemic catalyst which comprises an asymmetric polydentate (tetradentate) ligand complexed with a metal atom, where the complex has an approximately planar geometry, wherein the catalyst has the following formula (B): where Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 and Z 4 are each, independently of one another, a Lewis base; the C 1 moiety, viewed as a combination of Z 1 , Z 3 and M, and the C 2 moiety, viewed as a combination of Z 2 , Z 4 and M, in each case form, independently of one another, a heterocycle; R 1 , R 2 , R′ 1 and R′ 2 in each case independently of one another, are either absent or represent a covalently bound organic or inorganic substituent, in each case depending on the valence of the electron-donating atom to which they are bound; R 40 and R 41 , in each case independently of one another, are either absent or represent one or more covalently bound organic or inorganic substituents on C 1 and C 2 , depending on the valence of the ring atom to which they are bound, or two or more of R 1 , R 2 , R′ 1 , R′ 2 , R 40 and R 41 together form a bridging substituent; with the proviso that C 1 is substituted in at least one position by R 1 , R′ 1 or R 41 and C 2 is substituted in at least one position by R 2 , R′ 2 or R 40 , and at least one of R 1 , R′ 1 and R 41 together with at least one of R 2 , R′ 2 and R 40 form a bridging substituent, where Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 and Z 4 are present as a tetradentate ligand; M is a metal atom, A is a counterion or a nucleophile, and the catalyst is present as a racemic mixture.