Assymetric synthesis process

A process for the manufacture of compounds of the formula:

• ##STR16## wherein R represents aryl or heteroaryl, by asymmetrically hydrogenating a ketone of the formula:
• ##STR17## wherein R is as above, in the presence of a rhodium-diphosphine complex of the formula:
• Rh(X)(Y)(L.sub.0,1,2)!.sub.1,2 III
• wherein
• X, Y and L are the following:
• X=halogenide, Z--COO.sup.-, phenolate or halogenated phenolate;
• Z=lower alkyl, phenyl, halogenated lower alkyl or halogenated phenyl;
• Y=a chiral, atropisomeric diphosphine ligand of the formula:
• ##STR18## or of the formula:
• ##STR19## or a ferrocenyl-diphosphine of the formula:
• ##STR20## wherein:
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently=lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, di-lower alkylamino, hydroxy, protected hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, protected hydroxymethyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together are ##STR21## m=integer 3, 4, or 5;
• R.sup.6 =lower alkyl, phenyl, or benzyl;
• R.sup.7 =lower alkyl or both R.sup.7 's together di- or trimethylene;
• R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently=lower alkyl, phenyl, cycloalkyl, a five-membered heteroaromatic group or a group of the formula:
• ##STR22## R.sup.5 =lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, R.sup.8 =methyl, ethyl, halogen --OH, --NH.sub.2, acetylamino, --NO.sub.2, or --SO.sub.3 H, preferably in the 5,5'-position,
• n=integer 0, 1, 2, or 3, and
• L=neutral ligand.