| abstract |
Optically active 2-amino-l-phenylethanols of formula (I) or its mirror image, wherein R1 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl or aryl-substituted C1-6alkyl and R2 through R6 are independently hydrogen, hydroxy or C1-6alkoxy, or salts thereof are prepared by asymmetric hydrogenation of the corresponding 2-aminoacetophenones in the presence of a ruthenium complex catalyst comprising a chiral phosphine ligand. |