| abstract |
A process for preparing the S or R enantiomer of a compound of formula A, the process comprising subjecting a compound of formula B to asymmetric hydrogenation in the presence of a chiral transition metal catalyst and a source of hydrogen, wherein: X is CH 2 , oxygen or sulphur; R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are the same or different and signify hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, alkylcarbonylamino, alkylamino or dialkylamino group; and R 4 is alkyl or aryl, the transition metal catalyst comprising a chiral ligand having the formula wherein each R and R' independently represents alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylthio, arylthio, unsubstituted or substituted cyclic moiety selected from a group consisting of monocyclic or polycyclic saturated or partially saturated carbocyclic or heterocyclic, aromatic or heteroaromatic rings said rings comprising from 4 to 8 atoms and comprising from 0 to 3 heteroatoms, wherein: the term alkyl means hydrocarbon chains, straight or branched, containing from one to six carbon atoms, optionally substituted by aryl, alkoxy, halogen, alkoxycarbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl groups; the term aryl means an aromatic or heteraromatic group, optionally substituted one or more times by alkyl, alkyloxy, halogen or nitro group; and the term halogen means fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. |