Asymmetric hydrogenation of &bgr;-keto esters

US6359165B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Rainer Stürmer · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Martin Klatt · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Armin Börmer · Rostock, DE
• Jens Holz · Kessin, DE
• Gudrun Voss · Rostock, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 29, 1999
• Grant date: Mar 19, 2002
• Expiry date: Sep 29, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C67/31
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Enantiomerically pure &bgr;-hydroxy esters are prepared by a process in which &bgr;-keto esters are reacted with hydrogen in the presence of catalysts of the formula LRuX2 whereX is halogen, acetate, allyl, methallyl, 2-phenylallyl, perchlorate, trifluoroacetate, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluoroantimonate, hexafluorophosphate, hexafluoroarsenate or trichloroacetate,L is a bidentate phospholane of the formula I  whereB=a bridging link with 1-5 carbon atoms between the two phosphorus atoms,R1=H, C1-C6-alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or SiR23,R2=alkyl or aryl,m=0 or 1,R3=H or OR4, andR4=R1,with the proviso that if m=1 then R3=H and if m=0 then R3 ≠ H.