Process for producing optically active 1-substituted-1,3-propanediols using ruthenium-phosphine complex as a catalyst

摘要

A process for producing an optically active 1-substituted-1,3-propanediol is disclosed, comprising hydrogenating a 3-substituted-3-oxopropanol or 3-substituted-3-oxopropanal in the presence of a ruthenium-phosphine complex represented by formula (I): [RuI(p-cymene)(R1BINAP)]I3 (I) wherein R1-BINAP represents an optically active tertiary phosphine represented by formula (II): <IMAGE> (II) wherein R1 represents a phenyl group which may be substituted with a lower alkyl group or a halogen atom at the p-position and/or m-position.