Process for preparing optically active carboxylic acid
AssigneeTakasago International Corporation
InventorsMasahiko Saburi, Masamichi Ohnuki, Yasuzo Uchida
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Abstract
A process for preparing an optically active carboxylic acid is disclosed, comprising asymmetric hydrogenation of an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid using an alcohol as a hydrogen donor in the presence of a metal-optically active phosphine complex. A carboxylic acid having high optical purity can easily be obtained in a high yield without using specific equipment as required in using hydrogen gas as a hydrogen donor.
Claims6
A process for preparing an optically active carboxylic acid comprising asymmetric hydrogenation of an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid using an alcohol as a hydrogen donor in the presence of a metal-optically active phosphine complex, wherein said alcohol is used in a molar ratio of from 2 to 130 times that of the .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid, and wherein said asymmetric hydrogenation is performed in a nitrogen atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.