Patent ID: 7408084

Claim:
A process for producing an optically active α-substituted aminoketone represented by formula (4): (wherein Ar 1 and Ar 2 each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted C 6 -C 15 aryl group, R 1 represents a C 1 -C 12 alkyl or C 7 -C 12 aralkyl group, R 2 represents a C 1 -C 12 alkyl group *1 and *2 each represent an asymmetric carbon atom) or an optically active α-substituted aminoketone salt represented by formula (5): (wherein Ar 1 , Ar 2 , R 1 , R 2 , *1, and *2 are the same as above, and A − represents a counter anion), the process comprising the steps of: reacting an α-substituted ketone represented by formula (1): (wherein Ar 1 and R 1 are the same as above, and L represents a leaving group) with an optically active amine represented by formula (2): (wherein Ar 2 , R 2 , and *1 are the same as above) to yield a mixture of diastereomers of an optically active α-substituted aminoketone represented by formula (3): (wherein Ar 1 , Ar 2 , R 1 , R 2 , and *1 are the same as above); and isolating one diastereomer from the mixture after optionally yielding salts of the diastereomers with an acid.