METHOD FOR PRODUCING ß-FLUOROALCOHOL

摘要

This method for producing a ß-fluoroalcohol comprises a step wherein an a-fluoroester is caused to react with a hydrogen gas (H2) in the presence of a specific ruthenium complex (one represented by general formula (2), especially one represented by general formula (4)). The production method is capable of employing a suitable hydrogen pressure of 1 MPa or less by virtue of the usage of a specific ruthenium complex, and thus does not require a high-pressure gas production facility when put in industrial practice. In addition, the present invention is capable of remarkably reducing the amount of catalyst used therein (base material/catalyst ratio = 20,000) in comparison to the base material/catalyst ratio (1,000) in conventional reduction of an a-fluoroester. Since the hydrogen pressure and the amount of catalyst used in this production method are reduced, the production cost of a ß-fluoroalcohol can be significantly reduced.