CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR THE ENANTIOSELECTIVE CATALYTIC HYDROGENATION OF BETA-KETOESTERS

摘要

The present invention relates to a continuous process for the enantioselective catalytic hydrogenation of beta-ketoesters comprising providing a catalytic hydrogenation zone and maintaining it under conditions of temperature and pressure effective for the catalytic hydrogenation of beta-ketoesters; continuously supplying to the catalytic hydrogenation zone a substrate comprising a beta-ketoester to be hydrogenated, a catalyst effective for enantioselective hydrogenation of the beta-ketoester and hydrogen; contacting the substrate, the catalyst and the hydrogen in the hydrogenation zone for a residence time effective for at least partial enantioselective catalytic hydrogenation of the beta-ketoester; (d) continuously withdrawing from the hydrogenation zone a reaction product mixture comprising enantioselectively hydrogenated beta-ketoester, unreacted beta-ketoester, catalyst and hydrogen; (e) supplying the reaction product mixture to a separation zone and separating at least some of the enantioselectively hydrogenated beta-ketoester from the reaction product mixture; (f) withdrawing the separated enantioselectively hydrogenated beta-ketoester as product; and (g) optionally supplying at least part of the remaining material from the separation zone to the hydrogenation zone.