PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF 3-METHYL-CYCLOPENTADECENONE, PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF R/S-MUSCONE, AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE MUSCONE

摘要

By intramolecular condensation reaction of 2,15-hexadecanedione in a gaseous phase with a compound of a Group II element of the Periodic Table as a catalyst, 3-methyl-cyclopentadecenones is generated. Magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, or zinc oxide is desirable as the catalyst for the intramolecular condensation reaction. (R)- and (S)-muscone is generated by subjecting 3-methyl-cyclopentadecenones obtained as above to hydrogenation by using a catalyst. Palladium catalyst is desirable as the hydrogenation catalyst. Optically active muscone is generated by separating 3-methyl-cyclopentadecenones into respective components thereof by means of precision distillation and subsequently subjecting the separated 3-methyl-cyclopentadecenones to asymmetric hydrogenation by using an optically active ruthenium complex catalyst. The production methods described above enable easy and economical production of 3-methyl-cyclopentadecenones, (R)-and (S)-muscone, and optically active muscone.