Patent ID: 7429676

Claim:
Process for preparing enantiomerically enriched compounds of the general formula (I) where R 1 is an optionally substituted C 1 -C 18 -alkyl radical, an optionally substituted C 4 -C 24 -aryl radical or an optionally substituted C 5 -C 18 -arylalkyl radical, R 2 are each independently OH, halogen, pseudohalogen, amino, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 18 -alkyl radical, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 18 -alkoxy radical, an optionally substituted C 4 -C 24 -aryl radical, an optionally substituted C 5 -C 18 -arylalkyl radical, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 18 -alkylsulphonyl radical, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 18 -alkylcarboxyl radical, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 18 -alkylcarbonyl radical, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 18 -mono- or dialkylamino radical, an optionally substituted C 1 -C 18 -alkylsulphonylamino radical or an optionally substituted C 1 -C 18 -acylamino radical, and n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5, characterized in that compounds of the general formula (II) where R 1 , R 2 and n are each as defined for the general formula (I) are hydrogenated enantioselectively in a solvent and in the presence of a transition metal hydrogenation catalyst system comprising at least one transition metal compound and at least one ligand, wherein the transition metal compound(s) and ligand(s) are soluble in the solvent, and wherein the ligand is selected from the group consisting of (−)-2,2′-dichloro-3,3′-dimethoxy-6,6′-bis(diphenylphosphinyl)biphenyl, (−)-3,3′-bis(diphenylphosphinyl)-[4,4′]bi(dibenzofuranyl), and the particular enantiomer.