Process for producing optically active propargyl alcohols

A process for producing an optically active propargyl alcohol represented by the following formula (4):

• wherein
• R1 is an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkylsilyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, a C2-C10 heterocyclic group having 1-3 heteroatoms or a C1-C10 alkyl group having 1-3 heteroatoms, provided that
• the alkyl group, the cycloalkyl group, the alkenyl group, the cycloalkenyl group, the alkynyl group, the alkylsilyl group and the C1-C10 alkyl group having 1-3heteroatoms are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-3 substituents selected from halogen atoms, hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, carbonyloxyalkyl groups which may be optionally substituted, carbonyloxyaryl groups which may be optionally substituted, nitro groups, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, cycloalkenyl groups, aralkyl groups, alkoxy groups, di-substituted amino groups, aryl groups which may be optionally substituted, C2-C10 heterocyclic groups having 1-3 heteroatoms, C1-C10 alkyl groups having 1-3 heteroatoms and alkylsilyloxy groups, and
• the aromatic hydrocarbon group and the C2-C10 heterocyclic group having 1-3 heteroatoms are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-3 substituents selected from halogen atoms, hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, carbonyloxyalkyl groups which may be optionally substituted, carbonyloxyaryl groups which may be optionally substituted, nitro groups, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, cycloalkenyl groups, aralkyl groups, alkoxy groups, di-substituted amino groups, C1-C10 alkyl groups having 1-3 heteroatoms and alkylsilyloxy groups;
• and
• R2 is an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alklsilyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, a C2-C10 heterocyclic group having 1-3 heteroatoms or a C1-C10 alkyl group having 1-3 heteroatoms, provided that
• the alkyl group, the cycloalkyl group, the alkenyl group, the cycloalkenyl group, the alkynyl group, the alkylsilyl group and the C1-C10 alkyl group having 1-3heteroatoms are unsubstituted or substituted by 1-3 substituents selected from halogen atoms, hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, carbonyloxyalkyl groups which may be optionally substituted, carbonyloxyaryl groups which may be optionally substituted, nitro groups, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, cycloalkenyl groups, aralkyl groups, acyloxy groups, alkoxy groups, di-substituted amino groups, groups represented by —OR a wherein Ra represents a C2-C10 heterocyclic group having 1-3 heteroatoms, aryl groups which may be optionally substituted, C2-C10 heterocyclic groups having 1-3 heteroatoms, C1-C10 alkyl groups having 1-3 heteroatoms and alkylsilyloxy groups, and
• the aromatic hydrocarbon group and the C2-C10 heterocyclic group having 1-3 heteroatoms are unsubsitituted or substituted by 1-3 substituents selected from halogen atoms, hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, carbonyloxyalkyl groups which may be optionally substituted, carbonyloxyaryl groups which may be optionally substituted, nitro groups, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, cycloalkenyl groups, aralkyl groups, alkoxy groups, di-substituted amino groups, C1-C10 alkyl groups having 1-3 heteroatoms and alkylsilyloxy groups;
• which comprises allowing an aldehyde compound represented by the following formula (1);
• R1—CHO (1)
• wherein R1 means as defined above,
• to react with an alkyne compound represented by the following formula (2):
• HC≡C—R2 (2)
• wherein R2 means as defined above;
• in the presence of an optically active aminoalcohol represented by the following formula (3);
• wherein
• R3, R4, R5 and R6 each independently are a hydrogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C2-C6 alkynyl group, a C1-C6alkylsilyl group, a C3-C12 cycloalkyl group, a C2-C10 cyclic amine group or a C6-C10 aryl group, which are unsubstituted or substituted by a C1-C10 alkyl group, a C6-C10 aryl group, a nitro group, an amino group, a halogen atom, a sulfide group or a sulfonyl group, provided that optional two of R3, R4, R5 and R6may together form a C2-C12 alicyclic ring or a C2-C12 aromatic ring that may incorporate one or more heteroatoms as linkers and
• R7 and R8 each independently are a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C2-C6 alkynyl group, a C1-C6 alkylsilyl group, a C3-C12 cycloalkyl group or a C6-C10 aryl group, or R7 and R8 together form a C3-C12 membered ring or 3-12 membered heterocyclic ring, which are unsubstituted or substituted by a C1-C10 alkyl group, a C6-C10 aryl group, a nitro group, an amino group, a halogen atom, a sulfide group or a sulfonyl group, and n is 0, 1, or 2, and a tertiary amine and a zinc halogenated lower alkane sulfonate in an amount of less than equivalent molar base on the aldehyde compound of formula (1);
• without solvent or with a solvent in an amount of 10-fold by weight or less based on the aldehyde compound of formula (1).