Preparation of optically active alpha-hydroxyethers

摘要

Optically active alpha -hydroxyethers are prepared from prochiral alpha -ketoethers by heterogeneous hydrogenation using platinum catalysts in the presence of a chiral nitrogen base in high chemical and optical yields, since this type of hydrogenation selectively hydrogenates only one diastereomer virtually to completion. The yields may be substantially increased by adding a solid, strong base which has a racemizing effect on the non-hydrogenatable diasteromer.