Process for preparing optically active secondary alcohols having nitrogenous or oxygenic functional groups

摘要

A process for preparing optically active secondary alcohols of the general formula (3), [wherein R1 is linear lower alkyl, an aromatic ring group, or the like; A is CH2NR2R3 or the like; n is an integer of 0 to 2; and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom] by asymmetrically hydrogenating a ketone compound of the general formula (1) having nitrogenous or oxygen functional group at any of the a-, beta- and gamma-positions, with selectivity among functional groups by the use of a ruthenium/optically active bidentate phosphine/diamine complex as the catalyst in the presence of hydrogen alone or together with a base. The optically active secondary alcohols obtained by the process are useful as drugs and intermediates for the preparation of drugs.