Ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex, process for the preparation thereof and process for the preparation of optically active 4-methyl-2-oxetanone using same

摘要

The present invention provides a catalyst which exhibits a high catalytic activity and allows asymmetric reaction in a high asymmetric yield to obtain a reaction product having a high optical purity. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of an optically active 4-methyl-2-oxetanone having a high optical purity useful as starting material of polymer in a high yield in a short period in the presence of the foregoing catalyst. A novel ruthenium-iodo-optically active phosphine complex is provided, represented by the following general formula (1): Ru-I2-(R<1>-BINAP) wherein R<1>-BINAP represents an optically active tertiary phosphine represented by the following general formula (2): <CHEM> wherein R<1> represents an aryl group which may have a substituent selected from the group consisting of a C1-4 lower alkyl group, a C1-4 lower alkoxy group, a C1-4 lower alkylamino group, and a halogen atom or a C3-8 cycloalkyl group.