Patent ID: 7291739

Claim:
A process for stereoselective reaction of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of formula I: wherein the 3-substituent Z is substantially hindered from rotation about the bond (sp 2 -sp 2 biaryl axis) linking it to pyridine, and wherein each of R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of C 1-30 alkyl, C 3-30 cyclo alkyl and/or C 3-30 aryl, or NR 1 R 2 form a cyclic amine; wherein R 1 and/or R 2 may be optionally substituted and/or include one or more heteroatoms; formula II: wherein R 1 and R 2 are as hereinbefore defined; R 3 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 alkyl, C 3-20 cyclo alkyl and/or C 3-20 aryl, wherein R 3 may be optionally substituted and/or include one or more hetero atoms; R 4 is C 1-20 alkyl, C 3-20 cyclo alkyl and/or C 3-20 aryl or R 4 and R 5 together are a C 3-20 fused cyclic or aromatic group wherein R 4 or R 4 and R 5 together may be optionally substituted or include one or more hetero atoms; and one or more R 6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 and C 3-20 aryl, optionally substituted and/or including one or more hetero atoms; or formula III: wherein R 1 -R 3 and R 6 are as hereinbefore defined; or a salt, dimer or oligomer thereof; with an optically inactive substrate to provide one or both enantiomers of a derivative thereof, with simultaneous or subsequent recovery of the catalyst.